A-Stater summer 2011

summer 2011serving hispanic students alumni awards hall of fame

AAStater

for alumni & friends ofadams state college

Trujillo ‘07pushes herpotential

AAStater

Several years ago I received a phone call from a His-panic gentleman living on the Front Range. He was con-cerned about the term “Hispanic Serving Institution” thatappeared in a news release about Adams State’s award of aTitle V Grant from the U.S. Department of Education. Ashe put it, ASC should serve all students, not just Hispanicstudents. Of course he was correct, but his concerndemonstrates the on-going confusion that sometimes sur-rounds the term “Hispanic Serving.”The term, coined fairly recently in 1992, is a federal

definition which identifies certain post-secondary institu-tions as being “Hispanic Serving” if 25 percent of their undergraduate studentsidentify their ethnicity as Hispanic. The Title V grants ASC has received overthe years have been successful because we have identified areas and services atASC that additional federal funds could help to strengthen so all ASC studentscan be better served. (See page 12.) No federal (or state) funds can ever be usedto give one group of students an advantage over another—rather, the thinkingis that a rising tide raises all boats. If we can provide services we do not cur-rently have or improve existing services to all students, we are not only servingHispanic students, but all students in an improved way.Hispanic Serving Institutions like ASC tend to share traits which result from

being under-resourced institutions. Adams State’s students are generally low in-come, and we have historically kept our tuition and fees low to allow for theiraccess. In the past, we may have received a somewhat higher state reimburse-ment per student than other urban institutions, but this is increasingly not thecase because of state budget reductions. Moreover, Hispanic Serving Institu-tions receive only 60¢ on the federal dollar, compared to large research institu-tions. This includes Pell Grant awards that accompany low income studentswho come to regional and rural Hispanic Serving Institutions. The irony is thatstudents who need the most help often attend institutions with the least re-sources.To be a Hispanic Serving Institution is to provide a pathway for our His-

panic students and all of our students. When an institution can give all of itsstudents an equal hope and chance that they can succeed, then it is truly serv-ing its students.

VOL. 51, NO. 2 • SUMMER 2011

Published by Adams State College

adams state college • alamosa, co 81102719.587.7011 • 800.824.6494

www.adams.edu • e-mail: [email protected] edition:

www.adams.edu/alumni/astater/

PRESIDENT OF THE COLLEGEDr. David Svaldi

BOARD OF TRUSTEES FOR ADAMS STATE COLLEGESteve Valdez ’87 Chair

Arnold Salazar ’75 Vice ChairGigi Darricades • Mary Griffin

Liane “Buffie” McFadyen ’91, ’93 • Ann RiceCharles Scoggin, M.D. • Tim Walters ’73Dr. Carol Guerrero-Murphy Faculty Trustee

Kenneth Scally Student Trustee

ALUMNI ASSOCIATION BOARDLori Lee Laske ’91, ’01

Executive Secretary/Director of Alumni RelationsToney Cantu ’70 President

Kasey Russell ’03 Vice PresidentKaren Rubidoux Miller ’94 Secretary

D. Mike Garcia ’73, ’77 • Holly Felmlee ’76 • Lynn Michalke ’77Robert Oringdulph ’71 • Sandy Ortega ’74 • Chris Page ’02, ’03Jeremy Ratliff ’96 • Brian Rossbert ’02 • Rich Scanga ’75

Liz Tabeling-Garcia ’96, ’06 • Delzia Worley ’97

ASC FOUNDATION BOARDDuane Bussey ’82 President

Dr. John McDaniel Vice PresidentJohn A. Marvel ’70 Secretary/Treasurer

Russell Achatz ’85 • Keith Cerny • Genevieve CooperDale Hettinger ’64 • Charles “Chuck” Houser ’62 • Jeni Jack ’85Cindy Palmer • Rich Scanga ’75 • Chris Sittler ’04 • Ray Skeff

Izora Southway ’66 • Eldo Wall • Michael Ware ’69

FOUNDATION HONORARY BOARD MEMBERSStephen Bokat ’68 • Marguerite Salazar ’75, ’76

FOUNDATION EMERITUS BOARD MEMBERSSharon Carter • Richard Jacobs • Harold Kelloff

Ralph Outcalt • John ReasonJ. Byron Uhrich • R. Paul Wagner

FOUNDATION EX-OFFICIO MEMBERSDr. David Svaldi ASC President

Tammy Lopez ’91, ’00 Executive Director of the FoundationSteve Valdez ’87 Trustee Liaison

GRIZZLY CLUB BOARD OF DIRECTORSKeith Cerny Chair • Dave Barrows Vice Chair

Dennis Ortiz ’79 • Ric Cline ’71Ericha Loosbrock • Jeni Jack ’85 • Joe Martinez ’99Jay Meyer • Dennis Shioshita ‘77 • Steve Valdez ’87

ADAMS STATE COLLEGE MISSION STATEMENTAdams State College dedicates its resources to provide opportunityand access for all students. The College is an innovative leader thatrecognizes the inherent educational value of diversity. It is a catalystfor the educational, cultural, and economic interests of rural Col-

orado, the surrounding region, and the global community.

EDITOR & DESIGNERJulie Waechter

ASSOCIATE EDITORLinda Relyea ’96

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS & PHOTOGRAPHERSNancy Blevins ’11 • Chris Day • Eric Flores

Priscilla Gardea ‘06 • Gaylene Horning ’94 • Scott KretzmannCon Marshall • James Trujillo ‘02 • Blake Wood

president’s letter:

HSI’s meet needs of all students

the coverNursing graduate Denise Trujillo ‘07 has made the most of her education. She willbe honored at Homecoming 2011 as the Exceptional New Alumna (see story page26). She exemplifies the success many Hispanic students achieve thanks to AdamsState. The college’s mission as a Hispanic Serving Institution is detailed on page 12.

David Svaldi

contents

New Datennoorrtthh ccaammppuuss ttrraannssffoorrmmaattiioonn

ggrraanndd ooppeenniinnggThursday, Aug. 25

4 - 7 p.m.Tours • Luau Dinner • Entertainment

Residences at Rexon the ASC Campus GreenFirst St. & Stadium

7 p.m. Free Stadium Concert by Martini Shot

PARTY AHEAD

updateRites of Spring 4Can love rescue what hate threatens? 6New ASC tuition structure encourages earlier degree completion 7Rogers explores ethics for a small planet 8Sustainable energy projects get green light 8What’s so great about Adams State? 9Retirees ‘graduate’ to next phase 9

featuresParks’ perseverance inspires others 10Coolbaugh helped develop online education 11The face of a Hispanic Serving Institution 12

givingWaterses establish scholarship fund 20Legacy Society recognizes the Hettingers 20Pollard ‘61 honored via his brainchild program 21Memorial scholarship honors first ASC master’s recipient 21

alumnews 22Homecoming 2011 Schedule 22Stegman exhibits spirit of Billy Adams 23The Chemistry of Success 24Learning and Caring 26

alumnotes 28

alumni scrapbook 32

sports scenes 36ASC Hall of Fame inducts Class of 2011 36RMAC Hall of Fame inducts nine ASC X-C teams and one runner 37Spring Sports Recap 38

the college awarded 639degrees May 14, the most inmany years, including ASC’s firstMBA degrees. Colorado Commis-sioner of Agriculture John Salazar‘81 addressed the Master’s De-gree Ceremony (right).

Psychology graduate and AS&FPresident Lisa Chirieleison toldher fellow graduates: “College isdifficult; if it wasn’t, everyonewould do it. We got through thisthanks to the support from allthose in this room. Now it is up tous to continue to learn as stu-dents of life.”

4 | update

Rites of Spring

asc’s 2011 presidential teacherawards were presented to (from left)Dr. Richard Goddard, associate profes-sor of anthropology; Dr. Renee Beeton,assistant professor of chemistry; Ar-mando Valdez, assistant professor ofmanagement and health care adminis-tration; and Dr. Carol Guerrero-Murphy,professor of English.

A group of exceptional students identi-fied professors that demonstrated out-standing undergraduate teaching,advising, and mentoring.

the service alternative Seven students participated in the ASC Campus Ministry’s alternative springbreak, during which they performed service for the Navajo Nation in Tuba City, Ariz., in cooperation withAmizade International. The week included home stays with local families, cultural experiences such as asweat lodge, and service at the Boys & Girls Club.

finding one’s fit An undergraduate(right) examines the puzzle piece fromState Senator Gail Schwartz that sym-bolized her commencement addresstheme of finding one's fit in the biggerpicture of life.

Rites of Spring

Summer 2011 | A-Stater | 5

rural poverty in developing countries was the subject of this year’sModel United Nations Conference, held in Rome. ASC’s team was awardedpartial scholarships from RomeMUN to offset their costs. Micah Keller andAlex Robinson received the Distinguished Delegation Award for their workrepresenting Turkey.

Above from left: Micah Keller, Laurel Heimstra, Alex Robinson, JosephChavez, advisor Dr. Mari Centeno, Melissa Kam, and Alfonso Casias.

more than 1,500 high school studentsand advisors were on campus for the 2011 Col-orado State FFA Convention in June. ASC was theonly college sponsor on the Camaro (below) theorganization raffled off to earn over $54,000.President Svaldi and Dr. Zena Buser (from leftbelow), director of ASC’s agribusiness program,are shown with state FFA officers. The group willreturn to ASC for their 2014 convention.

FFA then ceded Plachy Hall to nearly 300 highschool athletes and coaches for the Colorado HighSchool Coaches Association All-State Games.

songs from the heart ASC’s Concert andChamber choirs (above) wrapped up the semesterwith a concert at the Sacred Heart Church in Alam-osa, always a venue with great acoustics.

everything from salsa to soil analysis was addressed atApril’s Student Scholar Days. Twenty-eight students from a diversity ofdepartments presented their research. Kayla Lanoue and Vicente Rios(below), along with Pualani Jeffries, explored “Why Do You Dance? TheGrowth of a Salsa Family.”

can love rescue what hate threatens? That’s the central question in William Shake-

speare’s Romeo and Juliet, said Theatre ProfessorJohn H. Taylor. Thus, the Theatre Departmentlaunched the “R&J Project: Seeking CommonGround” in conjunction with this spring’s produc-tion of the classic tragedy.“We presented a series of educational and pub-

lic programs that examined the role of conflict,reconciliation, and forgiveness in our lives,” Tay-

lor said. Many community membersparticipated in such events as programsfor school kids (upper left), an interfaithforum, and com munity religious serv-ices focused on conflict, forgiveness,and reconciliation. The play’s opening night perform-

ance was held as a benefit for the Cen-ter for Restorative Programs; more than1,800 people attended through theplay’s run. Taylor’s innovative produc-tion starred Jacob Sorling and EleanorSmith, who both graduated in thespring, and featured live percussioncomposed and performed by musicmajor Paul Kobe (left).The R&J Project also featured a

one-night only performance of the newplay The Laramie Project:10 Years Later(below). ASC’s original cast of the 2002production of The Laramie Project re-turned to campus to present the epi-logue, which explores the impact onLaramie of an anti-gay hate crime thatended in the torture death of MatthewShepard.

6 | update

R&J Project asks:

Whereforeart love?


Continued state budget cuts have prompted a $15 percredit hour tuition increase for the coming academic year,but a new tuition structure will help students graduatewithin four years and reduce their debt. “We have done all we could to keep our tuition increase

to a minimum,” said President David Svaldi. “Our studentbody is largely low-income, so we know affordability is es-sential.”The key feature of the new tuition structure is expansion

of the full-time tuition “window,” meaning students will paythe same full-time rate for 12 to 20 credit hours per semes-ter. Previously, the full-time rate covered 12-15 credits, witha surcharge for credits beyond 15. “Our recent record enrollments show that Adams State is

successfully expanding access to higher education,” Svaldiadded. “Now, we want to encourage students to reduce theirdegree completion time. This gives huge financial advan-tages. Students not only join the workforce and begin earn-ing sooner, they also significantly reduce educational loandebt.”Students must average 15 credits a semester to complete

bachelor’s degree requirements for 120 credits within four

years. Adams State students who graduate in four years ver-sus five save $18,321 in total direct costs.The tuition structure was part of the college’s 2011-12 ac-

ademic year budget, adopted by the ASC Board of TrusteesMay 13. The budget includes a reduction in state support ofmore than $2.3 million, 15 percent of the college’s GeneralFund allocation, according to Bill Mansheim, vice presidentfor Finance and Governmental Relations. “This amounts toa reduction of roughly $1,700 per ASC student.”Total full-time tuition and fees for Colorado resident un-

dergraduate students will be $2,813 per semester next year,an increase of $328. Non-resident undergraduates will pay$5,437 per semester, an increase of $472.Adams State housing rates will increase 0 to 4 percent, de-

pending on room choice; while the Sodexo meal plan will in-crease only $30 a semester. “Undergraduate state resident students who live on cam-

pus will see a total cost increase of only 6.5 percent,” Man-sheim said. “But the tuition window expansion meansstudents who register for more than 17 credits a semester willactually see cost decreases.”

New ASC tuition structure encouragesearlier degree completion

enrollment growth5.7 % Summer enrollment increase over 2010

16.7% Fall enrollment increase over last year, to date• Graduate student enrollment up 63%

first-generation freshmen

30%+NEW automatic merit scholarship$1,500 for continuing and transfer students with a

GPA of 3.9 and above

$1,000 award for GPAs between 3.5 and 3.89

$500 award for GPAs between 3.25 and 3.49

degrees awarded may 2011639 NEW americorps grant$275,000 Funds 250 volunteers over 3 yearscommunity partnerships outreach214 New clients served in 2010 by ASC Community

Partnerships Business Support Program

29% increase over 20098 business development workshops11 community organizing events

13 Community Art Gallery exhibits

“WE FULLY EXPECT TO BREAK ANOTHER

RECORD FOR ENROLLMENT THIS FALL.”- Dr. Michael Mumper ‘76

Senior VP, Enrollment Management & Program Development

8 |update

“we humans have been misbehavingas a species,” said Dr. Karel Rogers, keynote speaker duringASC’s Earth Week in April. “We are smart enough to knowbetter and make better choices.”

Rogers taughtbiology at AdamsState for 18 years,including a termas departmentchair. She retiredas an emeritusprofessor of biol-ogy at Grand Valley State Uni-versity, Mich. Shereturned to cam-pus to share per-spectives from herrecent book,Thinking Green:Ethics for a SmallPlanet. Rogers’ re-search has beenfunded by a seriesof grants from the

National Geographic Society, as well as the National ScienceFoundation. “Humans evolved to manipulate the environment to

make ourselves more comfortable,” Rogers said. “The keyphilosophical question is whether humans are separate andabove the rest of the species on Earth.”She said global warming and biodiversity loss, budget

deficits, war, and economic meltdown are the results of hu-mans “ignoring nature and its rules and how it functions.” She described American consumerism, now emulated

worldwide, as based on a paradigm of “I/Me/Now,” whichrelies on the cheapest, easiest solutions; cheap raw materials;and mass production. Effective solutions, she added, will belocal, collaborative, and cooperative, rather than industrial.She also emphasized that we can achieve abundance, notmerely sustainability, by creating “mutualism” between hu-mans and other living things.“If we are to survive, we can’t continue to use the techno-

logical kit we are using, we need to change technology andsystems to improve our planet’s carrying capacity. Every dol-lar we spend is a selective pressure. Every decision we makeabout our kids, meals, homes, and recreation has global im-pacts. We can vote with our purchases,” Rogers said. “Our children, civilization, and the Earth depend on how

we choose.”Thinking Green: Ethics for a Small Planet is available

through Amazon.com. You can watch Rogers’ talk at ASC at:http://youtu.be/O2chmuOC3uw

Soon, six percent of the electricityneeded to power Adams State Collegewill come from the sun. Collegetrustees recently approved a solar powerpurchase agreement with Oak Leaf En-ergy Partners Ohio, LLC, as well as anenergy performance contract withTrane U.S.A., a Qualified Energy Serv-ices Company.“These projects will reduce our en-

ergy costs, reduce green house emis-sions, and increase our use ofsustainable energy,” said Bill Man-sheim, vice president for Finance &Governmental Relations.Faculty Trustee Carol Guerrero-

Murphy said, “Students appreciate ourefforts toward sustainability. It’s a con-cern for their future.”

Oak Leaf Energy Partners obtainedan Xcel Energy Solar Reward to con-struct a solar PV system on ASC’s cam-pus. A 300 kW DC solar PV systemwill be located on the roof tops ofPlachy Hall, the college athletics facil-ity. The company will construct, own,and operate the system; Adams Statewill have options to purchase it.“This $1.4 million solar project will

produce an estimated 500 kWh ofclean energy annually, roughly six per-cent of ASC’s annual consumption,”Mansheim added. Actual productioncould exceed that estimate, due to theSan Luis Valley’s ideal solar conditions.The energy performance contract

entails phase II of energy conservationupgrades across campus. TRANE re-

cently completed Phase I of the project,valued at $1.2 million, which entailedinstallation of more efficient plumbingfixtures, as well as light fixtures andmotion sensor switches. Phase II willinstall $1.5 million worth of energy ef-ficient HVAC systems and controls. Itwill include fans, fan controls, and heatcontrols.The project is expected to reduce

the college’s utility costs by $110,000each year; the savings will be used to fi-nance the project. He noted this is a"guaranteed energy savings" perform-ance contract by which TRANE willpay the difference if at any time thesavings fall short of the guarantee.

Sustainable energy projects get green light

Dr. Karel Rogers presents her analysis ofglobal environmental issues and solutions.

earth week speaker

Rogers explores ethics for a small planet


The annual Retirees Dinner, spon-sored by the Adams State Office ofAlumni Relations April 5, recognizedeight faculty and staff members upontheir retirement from the college overthe last year. Faculty members Dr. Clarence Parks

and Dr. Alberta Coolbaugh concludedtheir Adams State teaching careers atthe end of the spring semester. (See sto-ries pages 10 & 11.)Also honored were six staff mem-

bers: student housing administrative assistant Eleanor Cruz; informationtechnology professional Tom Fuller; administrative assistant Lynn Michalke‘77; and Facilities staff members MikeGarcia ‘94, John Neal, and DwightSmith.Eleanor Cruz was a "model em-

ployee, rock solid" who had a passionfor people and her job, said Bruce DelTondo, director of Auxiliary Servicesand Housing/Residence Life. He hasworked with Cruz for most of her 17years as administrative assistant. Hesaid he asked several staff and studentsabout their experiences with Cruz:"There was a common theme. Theywould stop and think a minute, thensmile, and chuckle. You could see theimpact she made."When Tom Fuller came to Adams

State as a computer programmer in

1975, the personal computer did notexist, and "disc drives the size of pizzas"couldn't hold the data that today canbe stored on a two-inch "jump drive,"said Mike Nicholson, chief informationofficer."The pace of change in technology

has been exponential, and IT (informa-tion technology) professionals like Tomwere forced to constantly learn and re-learn a profession that is challengingand dynamic," he added. "For weeksafter his retirement last summer, Tomwas gracious enough to take our pan-icked phone calls and even come intothe office — all because of his willing-ness to help thiscollege."Lynn Michalke

‘77 had gainedaccounting andbusiness experi-ence during her27-year careerwith the City ofAlamosa. In 2007she joined AdamsState's Institu-tional Advance-ment Office as anadministrative as-sistant. Whenthat office down-

sized in 2009, she transferred to theRecords Office.Director of Alumni Relations Lori

Laske was inspired by Michalke's"wonderful attitude" after discoveringher whistling while she was filing.Michalke continues her relationshipwith the college by serving on the ASCAlumni Association Board of Directors.Mike Garcia ‘94 worked in general

trades and custodial services at AdamsState since 1990. John Neal andDwight Smith were carpenters in Facil-ities Services. Neal joined the staff in1985, while Smith came on board in1984.

Those honored at the recent ASC Retirees Dinner include (fromleft): Dr. Alberta Coolbaugh, Dr. Clarence Parks, Lynne Michalke‘77, Tom Fuller, and Eleanor Cruz. Not present were retirees MikeGarcia ‘94, John Neal, and Dwight Smith.

Retirees ‘graduate’ to next phase

ninety years ago, Colorado Governor BillyAdams achieved his dream of founding a collegefor teachers in the San Luis Valley.

The fall issue of the A-Stater will commemorate the college’sfounding and 2011 Homecoming. We’re looking for 90 things tocelebrate.

please tell us what you think makes Adams State sogreat. Send your ideas to [email protected], or mail to:

Alumni Relations, Adams State College208 Edgemont, Alamosa, CO 81102.

what’s so great about adams state?

10 | features

“i believe in my heart of hearts thatthose who study and understand sociology become more ef-fective people,” says Dr. Clarence Parks, who joined theAdams State faculty in 1983. Parks has been visually impaired since childhood, but this

never slowed him down or curtailed his interests. Althoughan elementary school principal expected him to leave schooland learn a skill such as “broom making,” Parks’s mother ar-gued, and his education continued in public school. In thelast several years, Clarence’s vision has deteriorated, yet hislove of learning and teaching continues.He said he knew Adams State would become his home

when he noticed an old Pinto with a hole in the driver’s sidewindow in the college parking lot – as opposed to the Mer-cedeses filling lots at Texas A&M, where he earned his Ph.D. Amy Hansen ’05, sociology major, took classes from Parks

and was his workstudy assistant. “He is a highly inquisitiveman who wants to know everything about everything. He ismy ‘fountain of knowledge’ for random facts and informa-tion.”Parks is active with the National Federation of the Blind,

the largest organization of blind people in America. “We ac-tively encourage young blind people to enter the teachingprofession,” Parks said. “I am compiling what I have learnedin my 40 years as a blind teacher into documents which may

help young blind teachers quickly learn things about theirsituation that took me decades to master.”Having just celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary, his

wife, Vicki said, “Clarence is my best friend. We love eachother more now than ever; it is a great life.” She admires hissense of humor and love of learning. She believes Parks al-ways strove to be a good teacher, person, father, and hus-band. “He amazes me every day in what he attempts toaccomplish. He is not one who makes excuses, even with avision handicap.”Parks’ brother, Barton, agrees. “Clarence has a great deal

of courage and understanding. He is not afraid to be his ownperson and go his own way.” Parks made his way in a worldfor the sighted, and continues inspire others with vision im-pairment. “Clarence plans to teach other blind people howto play the guitar in his retirement.” His years of inspiring and motivating students were recog-

nized by the 2010 Presidential Teaching Award. He taught avariety of courses in sociology and says his favorite, Sociologyof the Blues, developed out of his love for all aspects of bluesmusic. “Blues music is a contradiction. The songs are ofheartache, poverty, and dislocation, but once the song fin-ishes, you feel like smiling.” The Parkses have two children: Aaron ’00 and Elizabeth.

They anticipate retirement giving them more time with theirchildren and grandchildren.

By Linda Relyea ‘96

a glance at clarence parks• Born with 10% vision - now only able to tell the direction of

bright sunlight• Completed his entire education without special services or

treatment – elementary school teachers would hand him their notes to study; he held the papers right up to his nose

• Survived rattlesnake bite on the hand• Spent a year after college at a hippy commune – but never

took illegal drugs• Wrote The Man Who Knew the Blues, now ready for publica-

tion• Favorite time of day: when wife, Vicki, comes home• Donated a collection of antique clocks to the Luther Bean Mu-

seum, served on the first Luther Bean Museum board• Founded the Last Chance Band in the late ‘80s with faculty

colleagues who gather at private homes and share food andmusic – a tradition continuing today

• Impresses students, colleagues, and family with his thirst forinformation and knowledge

• If granted another life, would be an Everglades fishing guide • As a child, made a homemade canon he would shoot off to-

wards the coast• Believes Adams State students improve with every year

Parks’ perseverance inspires others

her asc great story is apage turner. Chapter after chapter, Dr.Alberta “Bert” Coolbaugh ‘98 accom-plishes goals and strives for excellence.Taking on the academic world armedwith three young children and the de-sire to become an accountant, Cool-baugh sought a job at a college whereshe could earn her degree.Thus, she moved from Salida to

Alamosa to work for ASC ExtendedStudies. Working full time, she soonearned a B.S. in business administra-tion with a 4.0 GPA and passed theCertified Public Accountant test on herfirst attempt. Her strong work ethicand goal orientation helped her ad-vance quickly, and she was encouragedby Phil Gore, Director of ExtendedStudies.Coolbaugh helped develop the first

totally online course at Adams State,Business Statistics. “I truly believe indistant education.” After being promoted to Assistant

Director of Extended Studies, Cool-baugh completed a Master in BusinessAdministration, graduating with hon-ors, from Colorado State University.Now she saw the future of online de-grees and Adams State’s role in provid-ing those opportunities.

“Whenever Alberta assumes anytask, you know it will be completed ef-fectively and efficiently,” said Dr. Geor-gia Grantham, Adams State strategiceducational consultant, who succeededCoolbaugh as the Extended StudiesDepartment Director. “We shared acommon vision for Extended Studies.Alberta planted the seed for onlinelearning at Adams State.” Deciding the next step would be to

become a professor to learn that end ofthe spectrum, Coolbaugh accepted afaculty position with the School ofBusiness in 2000. She had a summer tocreate and finalize her syllabi. That taskwas eased through the help of her hus-band, Carl, a tenured accounting pro-fessor. (Carl Coolbaugh is now ASCemeritus professor of business.)However, life then took a very unex-

pected and unfortunate turn: Carl be-came critically ill and was sent Flightfor Life to Denver, where he remainedthe rest of the summer, first touch-and-go and then in recovery and rehabilita-tion. “I got back to Alamosa a week be-

fore school started.” There was nottime to prepare in depth, but somehowCoolbaugh drew on her strength ofcharacter and ability to focus and madeit through the first semester, which in-

cluded weekend trips to Denver to visitCarl.“I worked hard, it is part of my

core,” Coolbaugh said.Over the last ten years, Alberta has

taught everything from computer ap-plication courses to web design anddesktop publishing in both traditionalclassrooms and online. “Every twoyears I have to totally redo my syllabus,because of software and technology up-grades,” which means first learning thenew systems herself. “I love technologyand I like learning,” she said. Sheearned her Ph.D. in Education with anemphasis in Instruction Design fromCapella University while teaching a fullload of classes.School of Business Chair Kurt

Keiser said: "Everything Albertatouches is golden — managing studentinternships, serving in Faculty Senate,chairing search committees. She is agreat colleague."Although Alberta is retiring from

full-time teaching, she will continue toinstruct students through onlinecourses. She has three children:Matthew (Karla), Kimberly, and Misty.She and Carl enjoy golf and spendingtime with their grandchildren.



alberta coolbaugh on paperextended studies accomplishments• Developed, implemented, administered off-campus

credit and non-credit programs in cooperation withthe academic departments

• Helped coordinate School of Education off-campusmaster’s programs

• Directed independent study course development

awards • 2007 Adams State “I Am Billy” certificate of recog-

nition• 1999 ASC Pioneer Award in Distance Education • Colorado Commission on Higher Education (CCHE)

Award for Exceptional Service to Continuing Educa-tion.

from non-trad student to full prof

Coolbaugh helped develop online ed

12 | features

of a

hispanicserving institution

ffaacceethe


of a

hispanicserving institution diversity: one of this century’s buzz words. Most colleges talk about its

importance . . . how it’s essential in a true learning community . . . how it prepares

students to succeed in the global marketplace.

At Adams State, valuing diversity is about seeing all students as individuals – regardless

of their backgrounds – and helping them create their place in the world.

Although Adams State was officially designated a Hispanic Serving Institution in 2000,

its commitment to students from diverse backgrounds is nothing new. Hispanic students

and other underserved groups have had a home at Adams State since it opened in 1924.

By Julie Waechter

14 | features

generations of hispanic educatorsgot their start at Adams State, and fellow Hispanic graduatesare likewise at the top of many other professions. ASC’salumni “stars” include the Hon. Carlos Lucero ’61, the firstHispanic appointed to the Twelfth Circuit Court of Appeals;former congressman John Salazar ’81, who now serves asColorado Commissioner of Agriculture; famed distance run-ning coach Dr. Joe I. Vigil ’53, ’59; and Marguerite Salazar’75, ’76, who is Regional Director of the U.S. Dept. ofHealth and Human Services for Region VIII. ExceptionalNew Alumni Award winners include Anthony Oliva, M.D.,‘99; attorney Phillip Lopez ‘04; and nursing director DeniseTrujillo ’07, this year’s honoree (see page 26).

quality AND quantityFounded to serve the San Luis Valley and southern Col-

orado, ASC has always enrolled a high percentage of His-panic students. Those numbers have grown in recent years –32 percent of undergraduates last fall were Hispanic, with atotal of 46 percent non-white. “We’re real excited about these positive trends,” said Eric

Carpio, assistant vice president for Enrollment Management.“A few years ago we were determined to not only increaseour number of new students, but also to steadily improve theacademic quality of freshmen, and at the same time, to growour Latino student enrollment. Our HSI status is very im-portant to us. Some people would say you can’t do all threeof these things together, because it hasn’t always worked atother institutions, so we were wary.” But the plan has been working; the college expects to

break enrollment records for the third year in a row this fall. Front Range colleges trying to improve their diversity

have discovered the SLV and begun courting its higher-achieving students. Nevertheless, Adams State’s percentage ofHispanic students is the highest of any public four-year col-lege in the state.A new merit scholarship program, now entering its second

year, has helped bolster recruitment of high ability students.Incoming freshmen who were high school valedictorians areautomatically awarded $1,000, while those with high CCHE

indexes (based on a combination of test scores and GPA) areawarded between $1,000 and $1,500. The Experience Col-orado Scholarship awards $5,000 to high achieving out-of-state residents. These awards are now renewable, based onGPA (see page 7).“We’ve become very deliberate in determining who and

where we recruit, how we devote our resources. Our recruit-ing has become more targeted, and we’re making better deci-sions on how well a student will fit here. I think we’ve gottenbetter at what we have always done well,” Carpio said.The addition of Priscilla Gardea ’06 (see page 17) as the

college’s Denver admissions counselor has been “tremen-dous,” Carpio said. “Also, the fact thatwe have a number of bilingual staffwho can help students and Spanish-speaking parents really helps breakthrough barriers.”

supporting student successThe focus now is on becoming more

truly “Hispanic Serving.” PresidentDavid Svaldi said this means “providingthe education and a pathway for ourHispanic students.”“We are truly serving our students

when they all have an equal hope forsuccess,” he added. The obstacles faced by Hispanic stu-

dents are common among the entireASC student body: low income, gaps inhigh school preparation, and geo-graphic isolation. Thirty-seven percentof Adams State undergraduate studentsare first-generation; among Hispanicstudents, that rate is 47 percent. Morethan half of ASC students are consid-ered low income, with family adjustedgross income averaging $17,818.

“WHAT MAKES ME REALLY HAPPY IS THAT

HISPANIC STUDENTS ARE NOW RETAINING

AT THE SAME RATE AS NON-HISPANIC STUDENTS.ASC IS EARNESTLY WORKING TO PROVIDE BETTEROPPORTUNITIES THAN IN THE PAST.”

- LeRoy SalazarASC Trustee

Therefore, all ASC students are benefiting from measures de-signed to mitigate these challenges. “We have many students who come from families that

don’t understand the college environment,” said Dr. MichaelMumper ’76, senior vice president for Enrollment Manage-ment & Program Development. “We need to create an envi-ronment in which first-generation students feel comfortableand welcome, and gives them what they need to be success-ful. They need to be aware of our services and our expecta-tions.“What it comes down to is whether or not a student feels

valued. They need to see people like themselves they canidentify with and get along with. They need to feel at home.Cultural events and social activities give students opportuni-ties to get to know each other. We’re looking for ways to helpthem get settled, put down roots, and feel more stability,” headded.This is where grants for improving Hispanic Serving Insti-

tutions have been invaluable. More than $8.5 million hascome in the form of U.S. Department of Education Title Vgrants. Adams State was the first college in the state to earn

Federal HSI designation, which requires a minimum of 25percent Hispanic enrollment.“Title V grants have allowed us to raise awareness of diver-

sity issues and needs on campus,” Svaldi said. Title V fund-ing has helped ASC improve resources, facilities, andteaching, and provide new opportunities. The results benefitall students. Other government agencies and private founda-tions also dedicate support to Hispanic Serving Institutions.(See chart page 18.) The college’s first Title V grant, for $1.96 million awarded

in 2000, created CELT – ASC’s Center for Equity in Learn-ing in Teaching. This faculty development program raises diversity issues and awareness and trains faculty in activelearning techniques. Participating faculty become more cog-nizant of students of different ethnic, cultural, class, and so-cial backgrounds. To date, well over 100 ASC faculty and staffhave participated in CELT intensive workshops (see page 17).A second, five-year cooperative Title V grant for $3.4 mil-

lion was awarded in 2005 to Adams State College, TrinidadState and Otero junior colleges to expand educational accessfor Hispanic students. CELT continued as a cornerstone ofthat grant.

Last fall,Adams State wasawarded a $3.18million grantfrom Title V thatis further sup-porting studentsuccess. Grant di-rector LillianGomez ‘81, ‘02said continuedfaculty develop-ment throughCELT “will focuson transitioningfrom pedagogy –education of chil-dren – to andro-gogy – educationof adults. Ourworkshops andseminars will re-

ASC’s 2010 freshmanclass exhibited the di-versity that character-izes Hispanic ServingInstitutions.


16 | features

view best practices for teaching Hispanic, at-risk, and adultstudents.”The grant is also funding acquisition of new instructional

and assistive technology, as well as construction of a StudentSuccess Center on the first floor of the Nielson Library. This“one-stop” for various academic support programs should beready this fall and is expected to “help expand services forstudents who may not have been successful in the past,”Gomez said.“As an under-resourced institution, there are a lot of

things we need. Title V grants allow us to expand our capac-ity,” Mumper explained. “For example, the new grant al-lowed us to add a staff member in career planning andplacement, as well as another academic advisor in the GrizzlyTesting Center. Many of our student services operate in one-person offices. These grants allow us to fill really importantholes.”A third component of the grant – the five-week Fast Track

program – launched this summer. Modeled on ASC’s suc-cessful Summer Scholars and STAY (Structured TransitionalAcademic Year) programs, it provided intense college prepand advising to 20 freshmen, who were invited to participatebased on test and ACT scores. “We try to take students where they are, assess their skills,

and work our hardest to get them moved into college mate-rial. For so many students, that’s the barrier to success,”Mumper explained.

Fast Track weekdays were filled with develop-mental instruction in math, writing, and reading,as well as advising and tutoring sessions. Week-ends included visiting museums in Santa Fe, raft-ing in Creede, Colo., and fun on the ASC RopesCourse. Two weekends were devoted to a three-credit workshop, Communicating Perspective onEquity - Reading, Writing, Speaking.

campus connectionsHispanic culture is a vital part of the campus,

thanks to such student organizations as El Parnaso(Spanish Club), Semillas de la Tierra Grupo Folk-lorico, and Mariachi Corazon del Valle. In 2009,Cultural Awareness and Student Achievement(CASA) was formed to further that cultural ex-pression and support the campus’ growing num-ber of Hispanic students. The group’s goal this year is involve more stu-

dents. They conducted focus groups to investigatethe unique needs of Hispanic students.“We want to discover how we can help elimi-

nate barriers,” said CASA member Isabel Medina-Keiser, ASC’s diversity officer. “Hispanic students

often have a difficult time leaving home and need to con-tinue family responsibilities. Other issues surround languageand racial identity. They prefer group advising, and can bereluctant to ask for individual help for fearing of looking stu-pid.”Under CASA’s auspices, students Carmen Murillo and

Carlos Martinez attended the Hispanic Association of Col-leges & Universities’ (HACU) national student leadership

Continued on page 18.

Instructor Andy Zaugg taught developmental mathematics during this sum-mer’s Title V Fast Track program for incoming freshmen. Clockwise from bot-tom left are Dominique Mathews, Joseph Yusef, Zaugg, Elisabet Hernandez,and Clinton Johnson.

Zaugg said the new iLearn program, “Class of 1,” helped each student focuson specific skills and tracked their progress, so Zaugg could intervene onproblem areas. Immediate, individualized feedback helps motivate students.

Title V Activity Director Eva Brown said, “If we really prepare students well inmath, the critical thinking deepened by mathematical concepts will transferinto every other content area.”

asc undergraduatestudent ethnicity

percentage ethnic group

33.8 Caucasian32.04 Hispanic20.0 Not indicated6.6 Black/African American2.2 Other1.7 Native American/Alaskan1.7 Multi Racial1.6 Asian0.36 Hawaiian

Data: Fall 2010


with the austere sangre de cristosas a backdrop, 21 faculty and staff from Adams State andNorthern New Mexico College gathered in May to discussissues surrounding equity at the 2011 CELT Leadership In-stitute – and I was fortunate enough to be among them. En route to the retreat, I wondered what the week would

entail, how this would be different from other diversitytrainings I’d done, how the group would interact, and how Iwas going to resist the urge to incessantly check my email. AsI neared our retreat site, those thoughts quickly became dis-placed by thoughts of my gorgeous surroundings. TheTrinchera Ranch in Ft. Garland, Colo., was the perfect set-ting for this week of intense dialogue and learning. We soon began the thoughtful work of transforming 21

individuals into trusted members of a group sharing a safespace. This gave way to learning exercises and forums tobetter understand oppression on many levels: individual, in-stitutional, and systemic. We discussed classism, racism, sex-ism, and heterosexism, as well as examples of intersectingidentities and marginalization and how these systems of op-pression feed into each other. Finally, and most importantly,we discussed and took action on the applicability of every-thing we had learned.

the tyranny of “isms”Through diversity trainings like CELT, higher education

professionals are able to better understand oppression as awhole. What became pivotal was understanding how these“isms” play out in the higher education setting. As a Latinaalumna, I drew on my experiences as a woman of color onAdams State’s campus. Although I didn’t consciously buildcommunities that aligned with my identity, in hindsight Isee that I did just that. For example, I would find comfort inrelationships with other Latino/as and spend time with afriend with whom I primarily spoke Spanish. I gravitated to-ward relationships with strong women and relished all theclasses I took as part of my Women’s Studies minor. What doesn’t come instinctively is the ability to see the

college experience from the perspective of people with differ-ent identities. How would it feel to be the only black studentin a classroom? What are some of the challenges studentswith disabilities face? How does the academic calendar affectstudents who celebrate non-Christian holidays? What kindsof perspectives do students bring to college based on theirsocio-economic backgrounds? How does a student’s identityinfluence their communication style?One of the best illustrations of this from CELT was dis-

cussion of a disheartening article called “A Class Above theRest,” which reviewed a study on how higher education canperpetuate classism. It showed that “differing curricular, ped-agogical, and student evaluation techniques stress differentcognitive and behavioral skills.” Some of the techniques con-

sidered were taking class attendance, lecture style vs. discus-sion style, and multiple choice exams vs. essays. These werethen correlated with preparing students either for mid-leveljobs with limited authority, or to become innovative, moreautonomous work leaders. Thankfully, in the article discussion group, I found myself

talking to two Adams State faculty members. What startedout as a bleak discussion on the findings of this studyquickly turned positive when they talked about the flexibilitythey have to incorporate teaching strategies to better engagetheir students.

allies in diversityThese were all emotionally charged topics, but two factors

gave me comfort. First: I was surrounded and supported bypeople who wereworking on be-coming strongerallies and havesimilar values andgoals about eq-uity. Second: Iwork for a collegethat already showsstrides in makinga difference forthe communitiesit serves. It is no secret

that I love beingan admissionscounselor forAdams State. I getto talk about howwonderful ourschool is all dayand help studentssee how it can bea great fit forthem. I didn’tthink it possible,but after my weekat CELT, I’m evenmore proud to be a Grizzly. As a staff member, I felt the en-couragement and camaraderie of the CELT participants. It’sgreat to know the CELT family at Adams State supportssuch a diverse population of students. Our work throughCELT harmonizes with the HSI mission of ASC to create afertile environment for positive growth and change. Do we still have a long way to go? Yes. But, the fact that

the CELT program is quickly becoming a cornerstone ofASC speaks volumes.

By Priscilla Gardea ‘06

After graduating from ASC with a degree inEnglish and minors in history and women’sstudies, Priscilla Gardea ‘06 earned a mas-ter’s degree in Student Affairs in Higher Education from Colorado State University -Ft. Collins in 2009. She now serves as ASC’sadmissions counselor in Denver.

center for equity in learning & teaching

CELT workshops foster understanding and support of diversity

conference in San Antonio last fall. Murillo, a Spanish andsociology major who immigrated from Mexico to the Stateswith her family at age 10, found the conference inspiringand helpful.“It’s nice to have the guidance CASA provides, especially

if you don’t have college role models. Some people are thefirst in their families to come to college, and CASA can helpwith paperwork and becoming aware of campus resources,”she said. “I think there’s more support for Hispanic studentstoday. Our main concern was the small number of Hispanicprofessors on campus.”While 26 percent of ASC’s administration is of Hispanic

descent, only 15 percent of faculty are. Svaldi acknowledgesthat recruiting and keeping minority faculty is a challengeacross higher education; the number of Hispanics earningPh.D.s has plateaued. “When I moved to administration from the faculty, 15 years

ago, only 4 percent of our faculty were from minority groups.That’s good progress, but we’re not there yet,” Svaldi said.

improving retention“We’ve done a much better job on campus of providing

appropriate services, centralizing those services, and makingbetter use of resources,” Carpio said. “For example, studentadvising and the testing center are now in close proximity,which allows us to identify students with a need for tutoringor advising.”

He also feels supplemental instruction programs, like TitleV, STAY, and EPIC (Engage, Persist, Innovate, and Cele-brate) are succeeding in strengthening students’ skills. These efforts are bearing fruit. ASC is one of only three

institutions in the state that retain Hispanic students at ratesat least equal to majority students. Over the last two years,Adams State College improved retention of first-year stu-dents by 10 percent and all but eliminated the retention gapbetween white and Hispanic students, according to Mumper.“The challenge now is to translate improved retention

into increased graduation rates,” he noted. “We should beginto see the impact on our graduation rates in the next severalyears.”According to the Colorado Commission on Higher Edu-

cation, Adams State’s graduation rates are better than the stu-dents’ income levels would predict. Between 1993 and 2003,the Hispanic student graduation rate (within six years) in-creased by 19 percent; while the rate for white students wentup 6.5 percentA study by the American Association of State Colleges

and Universities (AASCU) using data from 2002-05 foundASC had the third highest Hispanic graduation rate of all435 AASCU member institutions. The organization creditedthat success to ASC’s diverse campus and commitment tostudents.On the heals of a new report by the American Enterprise

Institute, "Rising to the Challenge: Raising Hispanic Gradu-

18 | features

grant award years funder project$ 1,960,000 2000-2005 Dept. of Education Title V Support curricular innovation & technology

3,444,368 2005-2010 Dept. of Education Title V Expand education access for Hispanic Cooperative grant with 3 community studentscolleges

3,237,209 2010-2015 Dept. of Education Title V Student Engagement & Success

599,935 Department of Housing and Urban ASC Community PartnershipsDevelopment - Hispanic Serving Institutions Assisting Communities

280,928 2009-2011 Department of Education FIPSIE Develop master’s degree inGraduate Programs at Institutions of Higher Education Administration &Higher Education Serving Hispanic Leadership (HEAL)Americans

108,400 2010-2012 Institute of Higher Education/ EPIC: Wal-Mart Foundation Engage, Persist, Innovate, & Celebrate –

support for first-generation students

113,361 Army Research Mathematics equipment

$ 6,644,201 total grants earned as hispanic serving institution


ation Rates as a National Priority," President Barack Obamacreated a President’s Advisory Commission on EducationalExcellence for Hispanics. Obama articulated a goal of in-creasing American graduation rates over all to the highest inthe world by 2020. The rapid growth of the country’s His-panic population means their academic success is crucial tomeeting that objective. According to the U.S. Census Bu-reau, 37 percent of the 44 million Hispanic U.S. residentsare under the age of 20, and by 2020, Hispanics will makeup 22 percent of the nation's college-age population. It’s pre-dicted America’s Hispanic population will double by 2050.Latino youth are the fastest growing demographic group

in Colorado, yet it is estimated that only 44 of every 100Hispanic children in Colorado will complete high school; 24will enter college, but only 6 will graduate college; and only2 will pursue post-graduate education.

strengthening hsi’sAdams State is becoming a leader in HSI advocacy, re-

gionally and nationally. A college delegation regularly attendsand presents at conferences of HACU. At the group’s na-tional convention held in Denver three years ago, ASC staffhelped to form the Colorado Coalition for Education Ad-vancement of Latinos (CoCEAL). The group includes tenColorado colleges and universities working to expand highereducation success for Hispanic students.Adams State’s President Svaldi was recently chosen to

chair the Southern Colorado Education Consortium, a col-laboration among ten southern Colorado colleges formed toincrease the number of southern Colorado residents who at-tend college. Only nine percent of 2009 high school gradu-ates in southern Colorado went on to pursue a highereducation. The consortium’s goal is to increase that numberby two percent by 2014. Southern Colorado’s lower educa-tional attainment in reflected in lower income levels. Thegroup is working on ways to improve access and collegecompletion for first generation, under-represented, and lowincome students. This effort will include ways to eliminatebarriers perceived by many students and parents. The consortium’s work is fueled by a $750,000 Fund for

the Improvement of Postsecondary Education (FIPSE) grantfrom the U.S. Department of Education. Plans include ex-pansion of concurrent college courses for high school stu-dents, and summer activities programs on college campusesfor school children.Another FIPSIE grant supports Adams State’s creation of

the state’s only master of arts degree in Higher EducationAdministration & Leadership (HEAL), which focuses onstaff development at HSIs. ASC received one of 30 grantsfrom FIPSE’s Special Focus Competition for Graduate Pro-

grams at Institutions of Higher Education Serving HispanicAmericans. “I believe HEAL was funded because it is innovative and

speaks to important needs. Simply put, it’s about access,”said program director Dr. Melissa L. Freeman. “We can nolonger afford to ignore the fastest growing demographic inthe nation. There will be long-term, negative economic con-sequences, if we do not adequately educate this population.It is important to have affirmative role models and mentorsfor those students matriculating into higher education.” With its second cohort starting this fall, the online pro-

gram offers working professionals a convenient and afford-able means to earn the credentials to assume leadershippositions in their organizations. Freeman said more thanthree-quarters of current students are Latino/a and/or workat HSIs.The first cohort includes a number of ASC employees, in-

cluding Carpio, who is enrolled in the program’s 18-creditpost-master’s certificate component. “ASC is only one of twofour-year HSIs in Colorado, so this program has broadenedmy awareness of other institutions around the region and al-lowed me to share ideas and adopt best practices,” he said.Describing a Hispanic Serving Institution can be com-

plex, but for Svaldi, it’s simple: “The heart of it is that we’re afamily. We care for each other and for our students.”

Students get into the rhythm at ASC’s Cinco de Mayo celebration,presented by CASA. CASA expands its events and services eachyear.

20 | giving

“ASC was the catalyst for the suc-cessful careers we had, so we desire togive the students of today the same op-portunity we were given with educa-tional scholarships and grants,” saidBill Waters ’59, ASC’s OutstandingAlumnus for 2006. He and his wife, Beth, recently es-

tablished a scholarship endowment forAdams State students who are gradu-ates of Cañon City High School or Sal-

ida High School. The Waters live inCañon City.“The scholarship is a product of

both my wife's and my interest in fur-thering education,” Bill added. Hiswife attended ASC for one year, butlack of funds delayed her education.Beth is a graduate of Salida HighSchool and a 1991 alumna of the Uni-versity of Maryland University Collegeand a retiree from the Federal Govern-ment. Besides completing her degree

while fully employed, shecompleted the Office of Per-sonnel ManagementWomen's Executive Leader-ship Program for mid-levelmanagers. The Training Pro-gram Office provided thegrant for her final two yearsat UMUC. The Waters realize today’s

economy makes it challeng-ing to pay for a college edu-cation. Bill attended collegeon an athletic scholarship;during his senior year thescholarship changed to an

ASC Presidential Scholarship. He cred-its his Adams State education as the be-ginning of a successful career as aMarine officer, helicopter pilot, andpilot for Marine One. After retiringfrom the USMC, he served as a con-sultant to the Naval Air Systems Com-mand. Bill joined the Marines after gradua-

tion. He received his Wings of Gold asa naval aviator in 1961. In 1966, hecompleted his second tour of Vietnam,then returned to the United States toattend the Amphibious Warfare Schooland was selected for the presidentialhelicopter mission.He flew 1,080 missions during three

tours in Vietnam and retired in 1983with numerous medals, including theSilver Star, two Bronze Stars, SingleMission Air Medal, 54 Strike FlightAwards, and the Navy CommendationMedal. In 1968 he was designated aMarine presidential helicopter pilot,and he has fond memories of flyingPresidents Lyndon Johnson andRichard Nixon.


Dale Hettinger '64 and his wife,Beverly, recently established a legacy forfuture generations of Adams State Col-lege students, faculty, staff, and com-munity members. They were recentlyinducted into the Adams State Founda-tion’s Legacy Society, which recognizesthose who include Adams State in theirestate planning. Hettinger received the2007 Outstanding Alumnus Award inrecognition of his achievements andsupport of Adams State.The Hettingers recognize the signifi-

cant impact Adams State has on theSan Luis Valley's economy and the important role the college plays in pro-viding accessible and affordable highereducation for the region’s residents. He and Beverly are avid patrons of

the Adams State College Theatre and

have contributed to scholarships fortheatre students. “We believe the department has a

quality program worth supporting. Ad-ditional scholarship funds will help at-tract talented students andgrow overall enrollment,”Dale said. Part of their sup-port for the Theatre Pro-gram comes from the sale ofHettinger’s handmadewooden toys.As members of the com-

munity, the Hettingers areconfident in Adams State’sleadership and future. Dale said, “With com-

plete confidence in the col-lege administration andBoard of Trustees, we believethat Adams State has pre-

pared as much as possible to withstandreduced state funding.”


Bill ‘59 and Beth Waters recently endowed a scholar-ship for students from Cañon City and Salida, Colo.

Dale ‘64 and Bev Hettinger are new members ofthe ASC Foundation’s Legacy Society.

Waters establish scholarship fund

Legacy Society recognizes the Hettingers

The alumnus who conceived of “Great Stories on Walls inHalls” was recently recognized through the program himself.The Great Story of Dr. Robert Pollard ‘61 was dedicated July1. His framed photograph and plaque joins three other trib-utes created to date: John Spencer ‘62, Rick Spier ’88, ’91,and Johnny L. and Electra (Watson) Wilson.A lifelong educator who earned a doctorate from Stanford

University, Pollard was the first in his family to enter college,having begun his schooling in a two-room schoolhouse inrural Arkansas. He was an all-conference football player atASC and wrote sports for the South Coloradan. Following re-tirement at age 55, Pollard started the last leg of his educa-tional journey by teaching developmental reading toinner-city minority students in the Dallas Public Schools.“I discovered that except for former ASC presidents and

those students who were highly successful athletes, therewere no avenues for the Great Stories of a vast majority ofalums, faculty, and friends to be told and read by others whomight be inspired by these stories,” Pollard explained. Withencouragement from Director of Alumni Relations LoriLaske ’91, ‘01, Connie Spencer ’63, ‘66, and his family, Pol-lard presented his idea for raising unrestricted funds for theASC Foundation, which approved it unanimously.The project is a unique way to honor loved ones or

alumni, faculty, staff, and friends of the college. The Founda-tion accepts a minimum donation of $5,000 to dedicate aGreat Story with a framed photograph and plaque, to behung in the Student Union Building. “As I near age 76, I suspect that I will have fewer and

fewer opportunities for involvement at ASC. My daughter

would have funded a plaque after my death, but this way sheand I and my friends and colleagues can experience it to-gether.“ASC has come a long way, and it’s going to go even fur-

ther, and I want to be with it,” Pollard said. He supportsAdams State for the “same reasons one supports his family,church, and country: love, respect, empathy, adulation, undi-luted admiration, innate need to protect, to nurture, and tobond.”For more information on how to dedicate a Great Story on

Walls in Halls, please contact Lori Laske, 719-587-7867, orTammy Lopez, 719-587-7122.


The Great Story of Dr. Robert Pollard ‘61 was unveiled at a recep-tion in the Luther Bean Museum. With Pollard are his daughter,Dr. Lisa Pollard (right) and Director of Alumni Relations Lori Laske‘91, ‘01.

great stories on walls in halls

Pollard ‘61 honored via his brainchild program

2011 phonathongiving report

$$$$ 2222 9999 ,,,, 2222 4444 5555 pledged by 529 alumniup 14% over last year

Average gift pledged: $55 New donors: 137Student callers: 13 Completed calls: 3,292

$$$$$$

The Adams State archives note the first student to receivea master’s degree from the college was Francis “Billie”(Chisholm) Stong. She earned her graduate degree in 1945and taught third grade in Alamosa for more than 25 years.Five of her ten children are also ASC alumni.Her family recently established a scholarship in her mem-

ory for San Luis Valley graduates majoring in education. The$1,000 scholarship will be awarded beginning with the2012-2013 academic year. Dave Stong ’80, said his mother’s compassion for all peo-

ple and her caring attitude followed her in her career andhome life. “I miss my mom every day.” Successive generations of the Stong family carry on Billie’s

commitment to education. Billie’s daughters, Patricia Relyea’71, ’72, and Peggy Stong ‘77, ’79; and grandchildren SarahRamirez ’04 and Matthew Relyea ’04, ’06 are all teachers inthe San Luis Valley.

Memorial scholarship honorsfirst ASC master’s recipient

friday, september 30 10 a.m. Golf Outing Cattails Golf Course

Cost $25 per 18 holes, includes cart

3:30 p.m. Alumni Receptions and Student Union Building, 3rd floorSpecial Reunion Group Get-togethers

5:30 p.m. Alumni Awards Banquet Student Union Building, Room 131and Annual Meeting $25 per person (incl. reception) Advance tickets preferredSemi-formal dress

8 p.m. Jazz Concert Richardson Hall Auditorium $5/person

8 p.m. Streetcar Named Desire ASC Theatre $10/person719-587-TIXX

saturday, october 18 a.m. 5K Run Cole Park $10 entry fee

10 a.m. Parade Main Street

11 a.m. Tailgate Party Campus Green $7/person

1 p.m. Football Game ASC vs. Nebraska-Kearney $7/personReserved seating for reunion groups

4 p.m. Post-game Reception Inn of the Rio Grande

22 | alumnews

5 year • class of 200610 year • class of 200115 year • class of 1996

20 year • class of 199125 year • class of 198630 year • class of 198135 year • class of 1976

40 year • class of 197145 year • class of 196650 year • class of 1961

For more info: call 800-824-6494, ext. 8www.adams.edu/alumni

email — [email protected]

class reunions

2011homecoming homeco

ming homecomingho

mecoming homecom

ing homecoming hom

ecoming homecomin

g homecoming home

coming homecoming

homecoming homec

oming homecoming

homecoming homeco

ming homecoming h

omecoming homecom

ing homecoming ho

mecoming homecomi

ng homecoming hom

e

coming homecoming

homecoming homeco

ming homecoming

homecoming homeco

ming homecoming h

omecoming homecom

ing homecoming hom

ecoming homecomin

g homecoming home

coming homecoming

homecoming homec

oming homecoming

homecoming homeco

ming homecoming h

omecoming homecom

ing homecoming hom

ecoming homecomin

g homecoming home

coming homecoming

homecoming homeco

ming homecoming


from his home, decoratedwith momentos of his family’s farmingheritage, Don Stegman ’61, ‘64 has ex-pansive views of both the San Juan andSangre de Cristo mountains. This vistahas been a constant in his life, just ashas Adams State College. The retired

English professor has shown constantloyalty to his alma mater, earning himthe 2011 Billy Adams Award, to be pre-sented at Homecoming, Sept. 30. “Don represents the ideals of Billy

Adams by championing the value of acollege in rural southern Colorado,”said Director of Alumni Relations LoriLaske ’91, ’01.“Adams State is part of me,”

Stegman said. “I’m still involved withsports, the theatre, music, and culturalevents.” He’s active with the ASC Alumni

Association, not only attending localreunions, but also serving as an ambas-sador for the Alumni Office at out-of-town gatherings. At the recent ASCAthletics Hall of Fame dinner, Stegmanhad the honor of presenting the medalto inductee Jim Colbert ’61, ‘65, a for-mer classmate. “I hadn’t seen Jim since 1965, but

we still feel close. That pride and goodfeelings have stayed with us.”Stegman has been a consistent finan-

cial supporter of the Grizzly Club andthe alumni scholarships, and created ascholarship in memory of his late wife,Joyce Stegman ’77, who died in 2005.“Don’s relationship with Adams

State goes back more than 50 years,”noted Adams State President DavidSvaldi. “He was instrumental in bring-

ing me to ASC. He and Joyce workedvery hard to help me and my familyconnect with Alamosa and the ASCcommunity. He was the unanimouschoice among Executive Team mem-bers for this recognition. His is a spe-cial Adams State Great Story.”

That story started the day Stegman,a “farm boy” and recent graduate ofMonte Vista High School, declared,“I’ve got to go to a bigger town.” Buthis boss at Kelloff ’s Market, RalphMann, handed him a fifty-dollar billand said: “Try college.” In 1957, that$50 covered one quarter’s tuition atAdams State. So Stegman enrolled andwas “hooked.” He would become thefirst in his family to earn a college de-gree.Stegman recalls when the Student

Union Veterans Memorial was openedin 1957. “Those were exciting times.We had big bands in the ballroom, anda bowling alley.”Stegman’s mentors as a student and

eventual facultycolleague wereDon Brooks andBudge Threlkeld.“They took meunder their wings.They helped meto be a good class-room teacher, andI emulated them.They had greatenthusiasm andknowledge of thesubject matter.”As a professor,

Stegman said he

most enjoyed teaching expository writ-ing, as well as working with theatreproductions. “I am so proud of ASC’stheatre program. It’s right up there withCreede Repertory Theatre. I can’t be-lieve how wonderful the new theatrebuilding is—it was a long time com-ing,” he said. Laske noted, “Don has assisted

thousands of students as a professor,and helped many of our alumni to goon to successful careers. He still keepsin contact with many of those students.He went above and beyond for ASCand still does in retirement.”

By Julie Waechter

“MYDAD PUNCHED COWS

FOR BILLY ADAMS.”- Don Stegman ‘61, ‘64

2011 Billy Adams Award recipient

2011homecoming homeco

ming homecomingho

mecoming homecom

ing homecoming hom

ecoming homecomin

g homecoming home

coming homecoming

homecoming homec

oming homecoming

homecoming homeco

ming homecoming h

omecoming homecom

ing homecoming ho

mecoming homecomi

ng homecoming hom

e

coming homecoming

homecoming homeco

ming homecoming

homecoming homeco

ming homecoming h

omecoming homecom

ing homecoming hom

ecoming homecomin

g homecoming home

coming homecoming

homecoming homec

oming homecoming

homecoming homeco

ming homecoming h

omecoming homecom

ing homecoming hom

ecoming homecomin

g homecoming home

coming homecoming

homecoming homeco

ming homecoming

don stegman on paper1957 • Enrolls at ASC1961 • Earns B.A. in English/Speech/Theatre at ASC

• Begins teaching public school in Kansas1964 • Completes M.A. in speech/theatre,

English/education at ASC• Joins English Dept. faculty

1967 • Doctoral work in linguistics & writing1981 • Publishes Clarity in English Grammar

Instruction text book 1993 • Begins transitional retirement from ASC1996 • Publishes Mostly Marvelous - An Overview

and Oral History of Adams State College 1966-1981

Stegman exhibits spirit of Billy Adams

ASC has a special place in the life of DonStegman ‘61, ‘64.

24 | alumnews

The Chemistry of SuccessJones’ career in nuclear science was ignited at ASC

“I was impressed with my two older brothers, who knewhow to do everything and were willing to show me the tricksof their trade. But my brothers wouldn’t take me to school;reportedly I once said ‘You won’t let me go to school till I’mready to go to high school.’“Finally, in 1936, they let me go to school, and I met Bud

Carson, who became a lifelong best friend. In the 7th or 8th

grade, I had a teacher who was very good at teaching science– made it fun. In high school the superintendent taughtchemistry, and I thought that was even more fun than sci-ence. “After competing on the school sports teams and complet-

ing the required course of study, I graduated from highschool and entered Adams State in 1948. My next oldestbrother spoke highly of the Chemistry Department and Dr.Thompson, professor of chemistry. I wanted to be a medicaldoctor like my grandfather, and also took biology with Dr.James H. Craft, emeritus professor of biology. He was a mag-nificent teacher, just like the rest. My junior year I took themedical school entrance exam but was not accepted, because‘you don’t know enough about art and history, even thoughyou scored very near the top in the scientific disciplines.’ Inever understood what ‘art and history’ added to a physi-cian’s capabilities.

“In 1952, I graduated with a degree in chemistry and bi-ology and took my first job with the DOW Chemical Com-pany at the Rocky Flats Plant outside Denver. I underwenttraining at Oak Ridge, Tenn., and had no sooner returned toDenver when Uncle Sam decided more troops were neededin Korea. I was sent back to the south for Army basic train-ing at Camp Rucker, Ala. The remainder of my service was

spent at Ft. Benning, Ga., asa medic working with doc-tors who were no greatshakes in art or history ei-ther.“After returning to the

Rocky Flats Plant, as achemist, I asked out JoanneRobinson, the secretary tothe plant’s chief accounting

officer, when she handed me a paycheck. We married on Oc-tober 27, 1956, and went on to have three children, Robin(Scott) Stubenhofer, Valerie, Scott, and three grandchildren:Beth, Alex, and Sam Stubenhofer.“I received a master’s degree at Colorado University and

was hired by the Atomic Energy Commission in Albu-querque, N.M., in 1960. From this headquarters I visitedplants and laboratories to learn all about weapon productionprocesses in detail, in order to render a critical evaluation ofmaterial accounting programs. With this experience I chose acareer field of great interest – in the design and productionprograms for delivery of nuclear weapons to meet the needsof the United States military. Beginning in 1963, I held thepositions of nuclear program engineer responsible for pluto-nium, development engineer for anti-ballistic missile nuclearwarheads, assistant manager for operations at the Rocky FlatsPlant, manager at the Pantex Plant in Amarillo, Texas; and in

Born in a log cabin in Hooper, Colo., Tom Jones ‘52 devotedhis career to assuring his country’s security. He retired in 1991 after 31 years with the AtomicEnergy Commission, having served for a time as Director of U.S. Nuclear Weapons Produc-tion. In recognition of his professional accomplishments, he will be honored as the 2011

Outstanding Alumnus at the Homecoming Banquet on Sept. 30. (See schedule page 22.)Jones exhibited a thirst for knowledge and love of science early on. He tells his story below:

“MY PROFESSION IS ABOUT AS

POSITIVE AS YOU CAN GET –THE RUSSIANS WERE NOT KIDDING.”


Q: What is a little known fact most people don’t know about you?TTJJ::My entire working career!

Q: Which accomplishments are you most proud of?TTJJ:: There were a number, but I can’t talk about them, because of secu-rity. On one of the last jobs I had clearance just under the UnitedStates President. Throughout my career, my friends, family, andneighbors were interviewed by the FBI to ensure I kept silent aboutmy work.

Q: Who do you admire ?TTJJ::Herman Roser, manager of the Albuquerque Atomic Energy Com-mission, and Harold Agnew, Director of the Los Alamos Labora-tory, who flew in the plane that dropped the first atomic weapon.

Q: Do you wish you had chosen a more positive career?TTJJ:: No, my profession is about as positive as you can get – the Russianswere not kidding.

Q: Are you pro-nuclear power?TTJJ:: Nuclear power is a good idea; it isn’t any more dangerous than otherenergy sources. Look how many are killed in coal mining. The ben-efits so outweigh the potential problems, it’s not worth worryingabout.

Q: What was your first car?TTJJ::My brothers and I shared a ‘37 Ford Coupe.

Q: What is your favorite pair of shoes?TTJJ:: The loafers I am wearing (black); they are excellent quality. I boughtthem 20 years ago.

Q: What goals remain for you?TTJJ:: Researching the Jones and Meyer family genealogy; I am the presi-dent of the Albuquerque Genealogy Society.

Q: What concerns you in the world today?TTJJ:: I always have concerns, but am not sure of answers. I am not a lib-eral by any stretch.

Q: What is your last ASC memory?TTJJ:: I believe I was one of the last people to visit Dr. Craft when he wasin the hospital. Years after my graduation he told me, “I alwaysknew you’d turn out well.”

Q: What would you say to your college self, now, if you could?TTJJ::Work harder; don’t go to so many movies.

Q: Have you ever dyed your hair or been tattooed?TTJJ:: NO.

Though his work is still top secret, the 2011 Out-standing Alumnus Tom Jones ‘52 is proud to havebeen a nuclear scientist for the U.S.

1974 – during the ten-year peak of the Cold War– was appointed director of U.S. NuclearWeapons Production.“Later, I became assistant manager in areas of

safety (workers, facilities, and nuclear) and secu-rity. When President Reagan established the high-priority Strategic Defense Initiative, I was assignedto manage these programs for the AlbuquerqueOffice and develop a strategic plan for the weaponsystem. An additional high priority effort assign-ment was to improve the emergency response ca-pabilities in the plants and laboratories, to includenuclear weapon accident response. This resultedin a Washington appointment to identify and as-semble an emergency management team of Na-tional Laboratory and Department of Energyprofessionals at Cape Canaveral for the launch ofthe Ulysses and Galileo space probes, which con-tained radio isotopic generators, on the spaceshuttle.“In 1990, the time seemed right to retire.

Joanne and I visited our children and toured Eu-rope, the first of many trips all over the world.”Tom & Joanne Jones live in Albuquerque, N.M.,

and regularly attend local alumni events.

Tom Jones declassifiedInterview by Linda Relyea ‘96

26 |alumnews

LLeeaarrnniinngg aanndd CCaarriinnggTrujillo continues her journey

“I literally had to pullover – I was so over-whelmed; I was crying,” Trujillo recalled. “It’s beensuch a good year. I honestlynever, ever thought I’d bewhere I am today. I feel sohonored to receive thisaward.”A nurse for many years,

Trujillo wasted no time inenrolling in Adams State’sRN-BSN (Bachelor of Sci-ence in Nursing) degreecompletion program when itbegan in 2005. BSN inhand, she then launchedinto Regis University’s on-line Master of Science inNursing Leadership, whichshe completed in May. She’sjust begun Regis’ nurse prac-titioner program. In Januaryshe was named Director ofNursing at Valley-WideHealth Systems in Alamosa. Trujillo advanced herself

– and finished her MSNwith a 4.0 GPA – while con-

Completing her BSN gave Denise Trujillo ‘07 (left) the qualifications to assume the position ofDirector of Nursing at Valley-Wide Health Systems. She oversees 40 nurses in the organiza-tion’s nine clinics.

Denise Trujillo ’07 is not one to rest on her laurels.In fact, the magnitude of her recent career and education achievements did not really registeruntil she received a call from Alumni Relations Director Lori Laske ’91, ’01, telling her she’dbeen selected as ASC’s 2011 Exceptional New Alumna. She will accept the award at theHomecoming Banquet, Sept. 30. (See schedule page 22.)

tinuing to work fulltime and raise herson, now 15. “It was really hard to do, but I was

determined. I needed to know I wassmart enough,” she said. “I would freakout if I got a 98 – and I never used tobe that way about grades.” Trujillo wasrecently inducted into the Alpha KappaChapter of Sigma Theta Tau, the nurs-ing honor society.

asc’s bsn program a catalystWaiting in line to receive her MSN

diploma in Denver, she had a momentto reflect on her accomplishments. “Iwas thinking about my son, staying upuntil 5 in the morning studying, beinghere with these younger kids who haveso much opportunity. . . “I am so grateful that ASC began the

BSN program – it kicked me off. In arural area there are not a lot of oppor-tunities to grow. I wouldn’t have beenable to do any of this without theBSN,” said Trujillo, She was nominated for the alumni

award by ASC Director of NursingAmanda Jojola and the entire nursingfaculty. “What truly makes Denise deserving

of this award is her caring and givingheart,” Jojola said. “Denise is a SanLuis Valley native and seeks every op-portunity to give back to her commu-nity. She has donated so much of hertime and energy to help our nursingdepartment succeed.”Trujillo and other ASC nursing

alumni also made a positive impressionwith the Commission on CollegiateNursing Education’s evaluation team

when it conducted an accreditationvisit of the program in January.“They were very impressed that so

many of us had gone on with our edu-cation. That is because a certain personset that tone for us: Amanda Jojola,”Trujillo said. “I want to walk in herfootsteps. She set the example to say‘You can advance in your education.’Her standard is high. I really appreciatethat. It shows in the nursing faculty.”In turn, Trujillo is finding she’s also

becoming a role model by conveyingthe importance of education to herstaff. Recently a clinic nurse in Du-rango told her: “I feel so inspired byyour story.”“That made my day,” Trujillo said. The value of advanced education is

clear to Trujillo. “I learned so much. Ican walk the talk of health care eco-nomics. My master’s gaveme more understanding ofhow things really process,why things are, and howthey should be. I can offerinput, instead of just agree-ing.”

leading for changeShe also appreciates the

support of Dr. Richard Velasquez, Valley-Wide’smedical director. “He gaveme the opportunity to growwith the organization as itchanges. This organizationhas been really supportive ofchanges in staff roles, unitstructuring, and continuingeducation. Your staff will

thrive if you can make positive changes.We have a great team.“My expectation is that you respect

everyone you encounter, treat everyonewith dignity and fairness. If you can’tdo that, I say, maybe you’re in thewrong profession.” Among the changes she’s imple-

mented already at Valley-Wide is aquarterly Competency Skills Fair andother training to advance the skills ofnurses and medical assistants. She alsohopes to restructure staffing so thateach clinic has a lead clinical nurse, ameasure she believes will improve com-munication and patient flow.“I have so much ahead of me,”

Trujillo said. “I have really done a lot ofgood things in my life, but I’m notdone yet.”

By Julie Waechter


“I HONESTLY NEVER, EVER THOUGHTI’D BE WHERE I AM TODAY.”Denise Trujillo ‘07

2011 Exceptional New Alumna

denise trujillo on paperprofessional memberships• Alpha Kappa Chapter at Large Sigma Theta Tau• ASC Sigma Theta Tau Honor Society of Nursing• National Association of Hispanic Nurses• Emergency Nurses Association• Society of Pediatric Nursing• Regional Trauma Advisory Council

volunteer service• Valley Wide Health Services’ Migrant Outreach

Program• Colorado State Patrol’s Don’t Drink and Drive

School Awareness• Habitat for Humanity• Tu Casa sexual assault awareness outreach

28 | alumnotes

Vera Carolyn Sprouse Snyder `47, `71 (Lit-tleton, CO) has taught elementary school inimpoverished schools throughout her career.She was named a Denver Public SchoolTeacher of the Year in 1975. After they retired,Vera and her husband, Gene, founded a pre-school, The Children’s Learning Center. Theywere named Englewood, Colorado, Citizensof the Year in 2002. She has recently pub-lished Surviving the Simple Life.

1950sLee Albright `51(Victoria, TX) marriedJacqueline Mauneyof Trinidad in his jun-ior year at Adams.He taught school asa teaching principalin the Mt. PleasantSchool before gradu-ating. He was employed in the Technical Divi-sion of the DuPont Company in 1951 andretired as laboratory supervisor on April 30,1985. He and his wife have 3 children:Michael, who was killed in 1979 at the age of26; Robin, who retired after 30 years as ateacher; and LeAnn, who is a licensed hairstylist. Lee was very active in the community,including a service record of 47 years withthe American Red Cross. He is very apprecia-tive of the rounded educational training hereceived at Adams State College, which be-came his background for a full life.

1960sLavoy McCorkle `60, `62 (Lamar, CO) is re-tired from teaching and still resides in Lamarwith his wife, Bessy. They spend much oftheir time visiting their children and grand-children in Colorado Springs and beyond.Lavoy spends most of his time on the golfcourse, but is active in the local communitycollege, as well as a proud booster of AdamsState.

Fred Sims `61 (Hayward, CA) worked for Syl-vania Electronics from 1965-67, then went toChabot College, where he worked for 35years. He retired in 2003. He has been mar-ried for 48 years.

Roger Gunlikson `62 (Ft. Collins, CO) retiredin 2006 from banking and now volunteers inRocky Mountain National Park and at theDenver International Airport.

Ruth Ann (Patterson Hagar) Glover `64(Deming, NM) taught in North Dakota andNew Mexico before retiring after 28 years

from Seattle Public Schools. She now volun-teers with the Home Delivered Meals pro-gram when not traveling the world. Shewould love to hear from former classmates [email protected].

James Deutsch `65 (Parker, CO) retired fromeducation after 32 years. He now works part-time in his small photography business andtravels with his wife, Beverly.

Joyce Crisp `67(Denver, CO) taughtschool for severalyears in theArkansas Valley andthen helped her hus-band with his busi-ness. She thenbecame a librarianwith the city and county of Denver for 26years. She retired last year and is now tryingto catch up on projects.

Antonio Esquibel `67 (Denver, CO) has takenan active part in 31 years of Metro State his-tory. Arriving at Metro State in 1980, Esquibelwas vice president for student affairs for 11years. He then taught Spanish and Chicanostudies courses for 9 more years, retiring in2000. In 2007, Gov. Bill Ritter appointed himto Metro’s Board of Trustees. His plans in-clude writing his memoirs and spending timewith his family. In addition to his service toMetro State, Esquibel has been director ofthe Learning Centers of the Latin AmericanResearch and Service Agency (LARASA) andof Rocky Mountain SER’s Head Start program.He also has contributed his time on numer-ous boards, including La Escuela Tlateloco(as chair), Denver Public Schools HispanicEducational Advisory Council, and the Col-orado Minority Engineering Association.Among the many awards Esquibel has received is the Cesar Chavez Award for Out-standing Leadership, for a lifetime of contri-butions to the Latino community in Colorado.

1970sFrank DeLeon `70(Littleton, CO) sayshe travels, travels,golfs, golfs, andswims. His bodyparts have been re-paired and replaced.

Bruce Meller `71(San Antonio, TX) writes, “During my 26 yearsof coaching and teaching, we won 1 state titlein baseball as head coach and went to statequarter-finals in basketball as head coach 3

times. I received my MA from Webster Univer-sity in 1991 in the field of HRD. In 1990 I mar-ried my beautiful wife, who is the best thingthat ever happened to me.”

Karen Bowman `72(Anderson, MO) ishappy on 4 quiet,country acres in ahome built for her.She enjoys workingon her home, artsand crafts, etc. Shesays she donated allher theatre books tothe county high school because they hadnone.

Chuck `73 and Margie `73 Eaton (Wichita,KS) have 2 girls who both went to college and5 grandkids (3 boys and 2 girls). Margie is amember of the Kansas Association of SchoolLibrarians and loves to teach and help stu-dents learn.

James “Jimmy” Martinez `73 (ColoradoSprings, CO) recently retired after 32 years ofdedicated service with the State of Colorado,Division of Behavioral Health and the Alcoholand Drug Abuse Division. As the treatmentfield manager, he traveled extensivelythroughout Colorado, accrediting both sub-stance abuse and mental health facilities. Heand his wife, Sharon,RNC, who will con-tinue her nursing ca-reer with the El PasoCounty Departmentof Health and Envi-ronment, plan totravel and do volun-teer work.

Jerry Sellars `73 (Guernsey, WY), the vocalmusic instructor at Guernsey-Sunrise for thepast 14 years, will complete a career thatspans 38 years in five communities inWyoming and several surrounding states. Hetook his first teaching job in Truth or Conse-quences, NM, where he taught for threeyears. He moved on to Alamosa for the nexttwo years and then spent 16 years in Rawlins,WY. After three years at Pinedale, Jerry movedhis family to Guernsey, where he has been asubstantial motivator for a number of stu-dents who have continued their vocal musiccareers beyond high school. Jerry and hiswife, Sarah, have 5 daughters: HeatherGillardo, Tara Sellars, Jackie Craig, RebeccaToll, and Molly Sellars. Jerry says his wife anddaughters are the greatest blessings in hislife.

1940s

alumnotes


Peggy Bland `76,`81 (Holly, CO) re-tired in 2010 afterteaching elementarystudents for 34years. She retiredafter ten years withthe Lamar School District.

Mary Campe `76(Lakewood, CO) hashad one of herrecipes published inthe Taste of Home2011 Comfort FoodDiet Cookbook. InMarch 2011 she vol-unteered at the

“Beautiful Junk” sale to support the Jeffco Ac-tion Center (food and clothing bank) in Lake-wood. In May, she helped out at the KidneyWalk in Denver, as she only has one kidney.

John VanTassel `76, `85 (Colorado Springs,CO) taught and coached for 33 years in Delta,CO, and was the assistant basketball coachat Mesa College. Hetaught in Rifle, CO,and for the last 24years at Air AcademyHigh School in Col-orado Springs. He isnow retired and sell-ing insurance forUnited InsuranceGroup in southernColorado.

James Abernathy `77 (Lamar, CO) taught inLamar for 30 years, retiring in 2002. He then

worked for Safewayuntil 2009. He hasbeen married towife, Cheryl, for 42years. They have 3married children and8 grandkids. Hedoes volunteer workand travels occa-sionally.

Thomas Roman `77 (Winnemucca, NV) is asenior geologist II for Newmont Mining Cor-poration. His wife, Shirley (Beck) Roman`77, teaches elementary P.E. at the Win-nemucca Grammar School. Both of their chil-dren are grown and out of the house. Son,Gregory, earned a Ph.D. in analytical chem-istry and works for a medical instrumentcompany in Massachusetts. Daughter, Au-drey, is in her 3rd year of a Ph.D. program innuclear chemistry at UNLV. Tom very fondlyremembers their days at ASC. “Shirley Sue

worked at the Hamburger Inn, which wasright across the street from the old sciencebuilding. I would go over there after labs, atthe end of her shift just before it closed. Theywould pay Shirley out of the till and with herpockets full of quarters from the tips she hadearned, we would walk directly down to thePurple Pig Pub and spend it. Those were in-deed the best days of our lives!” They cele-brated 33 years of marriage July. They say,“All is well and we miss the land of cool sun-shine!”

Mary Butero `78(Aguilar, CO) retiredin 2002 from BoydElementary in Alam-osa. She has 2 children, 4 grand-children, and 2great-grandchildren.

1980sDonna Hoover `84 (Rush, CO) retired and isstill subbing at K-12 for the 18th year. Sheand her husband celebrated their 50th wed-ding anniversary in April.

Karen (Ehmke)Greening `88(Thornton, CO) hastwo wonderful boys.Brad followed in herfootsteps and is atheater major atAdams State. Connor will be starting collegeat UNC next year. She writes, “I have beenteaching special education and drama for 15years. I’m always busy, but I love it. I misseveryone from the ‘80s at ASC and wouldlove to catch up. Please email me [email protected].”

Becky `89 and Pat `90 Steenburg live in Wa-verly, CO, with daughters Kyle Ann, 15, Erika,13, and son Raymond, 6. Becky is active atAlamosa Christian Reformed Church in apraise band and works as a substituteteacher. Pat is the City of Alamosa supervisorof engineering.

1990sPam Fagerlund `90 (Flagler, CO) has been in-ducted into the CHSCA Hall of Fame. She isthe first coach inducted from Flagler and KitCarson County. She has coached at Flagler for29 years as a high school volleyball and jun-ior high volleyball and track coach. She has

Shirley Atencio `78, `91 (Center, CO) was named San LuisValley Teacher of the Year. She is a language and literacyteacher who has taught in the Center School District for 33years. She also received a Congressional Award from Con-gressman Scott Tipton, who recognized Atencio on theHouse floor April 5. He said her leadership within the com-munity was an important part of the area’s success.

Other alumnae nominated for SLV Teacher of the Year, who won the award at theirrespective schools, include:

great stories

Marie Renner ‘84 (Manassa, CO), 2ndgrade teacher at Manassa Elementary,has taught in the North Conejos SchoolDistrict for 26 years.

Jenene Holcomb ‘89, ‘94 (Alamosa, CO)has been the director and instructor ofthe preschool in the Sangre de CristoSchool District for the last five years.She also directs the district’s musicprogram, which was due to be cut, butHolcomb volunteered her services so itcould continue.

Deb Skadberg ‘90 (Saguache, CO)teaches social studies and reading,

grades K-8, and coordinates the giftedand talented program at Mountain Val-ley School District.

Myra Manzanares ‘93, ‘01 (Alamosa,CO) has taught first grade at Polston El-ementary for the last six years.

Julie Faucett ‘03 (Alamosa, CO) teachesearly childhood special education frombirth to age 3 for SLV BOCES.

Annette Bernal ‘07, ‘09 (Alamosa, CO)has taught junior high science andmath at Centennial School for the lastfive years.

1990s

30 | alumnotes

been married to her husband, Randy, for 34years and has 2 children: Sheryl, 26, andDaniel, 23.

Cleta Hiner-Felzien `90 (Limon, CO) is proudto say her son, William, graduated fromLimon High School this spring.

Deborah Hofsetz `93 (Morrison, CO) works atan elementary school in Edgewater, CO.

David `95 and Joanie (Thacker) `96 Chap-man live in Colorado Springs with their 2boys. They are both teachers in Falcon SchoolDistrict. Both boys play baseball, so whenthey are not in school, they are at a baseballgame.

Nathan Lucero `95 (Thornton, CO) is wrap-ping up his tenure as president of theAdams/Broomfield Bar Association and stillworks for the Adams County Attorney’s Of-fice. He was chosen as a Bar Fellow this yearas well. His wife, Carol Nelson-Lucero `97,was recently promoted to master police offi-cer with the Broomfield Police Departmentand became one of 237 individuals nation-wide to earn Certified Jail Operator designa-tion through the American Jail Association.

Andy `96 and Tonya `98 Fisher live andteach in Cañon City,CO. Andy is the highschool dramateacher, and Tonyateaches Title I math.They have 2 beauti-ful and activedaughters: Atalia, 6,and Taiya, 2.

Paul Gabaldon ‘97(Prescott, AZ,) received the 2011Project LEARN Ad-ministrator of theYear Award for Ari-zona. Project LEARN(Literacy Educationand Resource Net-

work) was established by the ArizonaSupreme Court in 1987 to address one of thesociological roots of crime and delinquency –the inability to read and write. Paul is nowdetention manager with Yavapai County Juve-nile Court Center, where he has worked sincegraduating with a degree in sociology/crimi-nology, social welfare. He also served as adetention officer, probation officer, and in-tensive probation officer.

Kay Henry Bartlett `98 (Paonia, CO) was ap-pointed to a 4-year term on the Domestic Vio-lence Offender Management Board in Januaryand will also serve on the Application Review

Committee. She says, “This says a lot forASC's master's program in counseling!”

Scott Riley `98 (Englewood, CO) is workingat Rampart High School in Colorado Springs.His wife, Lindsay `98, is a senior financialanalyst at Xcel Energy.

Tom Bruscino `99 (Lansing, KS) is excitedabout the success of his book, A NationForged in War, and was recently promoted toassociate professor at the School of Ad-vanced Military Studies in Ft. Leavenworth.He and his wife, Terrie `99, are truly enjoyinglife with their 3 children: Dominic, 7; An-thony, 5; and Mari, 3.

2000sJames Lander ’02 (Pueblo, CO) is a counselorand supervisor with the Colorado Departmentof Corrections in Cañon City, CO. He has beenemployed with the DOC for 10 years. He ismarried with 2 kids, ages 15 and 19.

Dakota Edwards-Hoffmann `03 (ColoradoSprings, CO) is a stay-at-home mom afterserving in the United States Army. Her hus-band, Rick, is a 15-year veteran of the Col-orado State Patrol. They have a 4-year-oldson, Brady.

Alia Willson `03 is an Arizona native, bornand raised in Flagstaff. After staying up lateproducing the 9 p.m. news for the FOX sta-tion in Rapid City, S.D. for the past two years,she is now shifting her schedule and workingas a morning producer at FOX21. She is veryexcited about being back in the state of Col-orado, and when she has spare time sheloves to surround herself with family, friends,and pets. She enjoys spending time in thekitchen cooking, dance and theater, and ofcourse enjoying all the outdoor activities thatthe state has to offer.

Christopher Cross `04 (Ft. Lupton, CO) andhis wife, Jessica, arethe proud parents ofChristopher DavidCross, 5 months.Chris is a career fire-fighter with Fort Lup-ton Fire Departmentand is active as acity council member.

Michael Chrisman `04 (Pueblo, CO) was or-dained to the priesthood on June 10 at theCathedral of the Sacred Heart in Pueblo. Heentered St. Meinrad Seminary in southern In-diana in the fall of 2005, going on to earn aMaster of Arts in Catholic Thought and Lifeand later a Master of Divinity. He was given

pastoral assignments within the diocese atChrist the King Parish in Pueblo and in theSan Juan Catholic Community in the San LuisValley and then ordained a deacon for theDiocese of Pueblo in June of 2010.

Justin `05 and Tashina `03 Garrett (Denver,CO) were blessedwith Ozias JosephGarrett last July.Justin is a regulatoryspecialist with NobleEnergy, and Tashinais a foster care casemanager with SavioHouse.

Dustin Richardson `05 (Tucson, AZ) in 2010,was promoted to solutions development/quality data analyst at Ascension Health In-formation Services/Carondelet Health Net-work. He has been with CHN since June 2007.He plans to complete his Masters of PublicAdministration and Policy Analysis in August2011 and then pursue a Ph.D. in PublicHealth/Epidemiology.

Erick Finnestead `06 (Erie, CO) will be thenew principal of Silver Creek High School inthe St. Vrain Valley School District. He previ-ously served as an assistant principal atSummit High School in Breckenridge.

Amy Larson `06(Sanford, CO) andher husband, Lucas,welcomed their 3rdchild at the end ofMay. They enjoy liv-ing in the San LuisValley. Lucas ownshis own mechanicshop in Sanford.Amy is enjoying being a stay-at-home momand wife. She hopes one day to open a com-munity/family theatre.

Kyle Hurley `08 (Pleasant Hill, CA) earned anMBA in finance at Gonzaga University and isnow a credit union examiner for the federalgovernment. She writes, “I am blessed tohave found such a great job in this ever-changing economy.”

Sarah Sandstrom `10 (Pueblo, CO) has beena music teacher for10 years at JamesMadison, grades K-6.She is counseling inaddition to teaching.She is married with a5-year-old son.

alumnotes


asc cares day

Show you careASC Cares Day invites alumni to

join students in a day of communityservice, Saturday, Sept. 24. A specialBLM project will bring alumni and stu-dents together to benefit the environ-ment. Volunteers will depart from the new

North Campus Green at a designatedstart time and return to campus to joinothers for food and festivities. Alumni unable to attend the local

event are encouraged to embrace thespirit of ASC Cares by finding a way tovolunteer within their local communityon that day, and then share those expe-riences on the ASC facebook page. For more information and to sign

up, please go to: asccares.adams.edu.

in memoryDoris Hall Dragich ’42 (Longview, WA)passed away March 13 at the age of 90.

Frances “Billie” Stong ’44, ’45 (Alamosa,CO) passed away May 8 at the age of 87. Shewas one of the first to earn a master’s degreefrom ASC. Among her survivors is her hus-band, Paul Stong ’47; son, David Stong ’80;daughters Patricia Relyea ’71, ’72, PaulaParsons ’84, Margaret Stong ’77, ’89;granddaughter Sarah Ramirez ’04, andgrandson Matthew Relyea ’04, ’06.

Robert Morris ’46 (Lewiston, ID) passedaway April 20 at the age of 89. Among hissurvivors is his wife, Genevieve Morris ’45.

Ralph Berryman ’47 (Grand Junction, CO)passed away March 20 at the age of 89.Among his survivors is his wife, EleanorBerryman ’48.

Robert Copeland ’49 (Colorado Springs, CO)passed away April 2 at the age of 85. Amonghis survivors is his wife, Peggy Copeland ’50.He was an emeritus board member for theAdams State College Foundation.

Joseph Roman ’49 (St. Paul, MN) passedaway Oct. 27, 2010, at the age of 82.

Ray McGee ’50 (Denver, CO) passed awayJan. 9 at the age of 87. Among his survivorsare his wife Ruth McGee ’50, daughter Ray-lene Kahler ’77, and granddaughter Leslie

Kahler ’11. The McGees founded the JimmyMcGee Memorial Scholarship at ASC formusic majors in 1990. The fund was recentlyrenamed the Ray, Ruth, and Jimmy McGeeScholarship.

James Ballotti ’51 (Bonita Springs, FL)passed away May 9 at the age of 86. Amonghis survivors is his brother, Ernest Ballotti'50, '62.

Don Zeigler ’52, ’68 (Ft. Collins, CO) passedaway April 30 at the age of 81.

William Wright ’56 (San Diego, CA) passedaway March 5 at the age of 79.

Yvonne Wick ’58, ’60 (Colorado Springs, CO)passed away March 17 at the age of 87.Among her survivors are her son, RolandWick, Jr. ’69, ’70, ’84, and daughter-in-law,Maryann Wick ’70.

Barbara Olsen ’60 (Cortez, CO) passed awayDec. 8, 2010, at the age of 73.

James Seese ’65 (Tucson, AZ) passed awayApril 1 at the age of 68. Among his survivorsare his wife, Patricia Seese ’63, ’87; daugh-ter, Jamie Zene ’95; and son-in-law, MattZene ’91, ’94.

Herbert Toogood ’66 (Alamosa, CO) passedaway May 25 at the age of 69.

Kenneth Huser ’67 (Salina, KS) passed awayDec. 25, 2010, at the age of 66.

Donna Edwards ’69 (Seattle, WA) passedaway Feb. 14 at the age of 64. Among her sur-vivors is her sister, Verla Edwards Trani ’73.

Michael Putnam ’69, ’72 (Durango, CO)passed away May 11 at the age of 65. Amonghis survivors is his wife, Gay Putnam ’71.

Fabiola Sanford ’73 (Evans, CO) passed awayDec. 14, 2010, at the age of 76.

Robert Colwell ’83 (Missouri Valley, IA)passed away Oct. 26, 2010, at the age of 58.

Deborah Getz Heersink ’89 (Del Norte, CO)passed away March 27 at the age of 45.

Kari Kincannon ’89 (Golden, CO) passedaway March 1 at the age of 43.

friendsKeats Raymond McKinney (Denver, CO), for-mer Dean of ASC from 1953-64, passed awayDec. 16, 2010, at the age of 99.

Alice Shipp (Cañon City, CO), employee ofASC from 1961-87, passed away Jan. 1 at theage of 83. Among her survivors are herdaughter AJ Grande ’71, son-in-lawWalt“Skip” Grande ’68, grandson Joe Grande’98, and granddaughter-in-law SteffaniGrande ’98.

If you were the first in your family to finish college, you can probably relate tothe challenges that face incoming first-generation students. Some are poorly pre-pared academically, others have financial issues, and others don’t fully understandcollege expectations. More than 30 percent of new freshmen at ASC are first-gen-eration.ASC’s new EPIC program – Engage, Persist, Innovate, and Celebrate – is ad-

dressing the issues of first-generation students though a $100,000, two-year grantfrom the Institute of Higher Education Policy and the Wal-Mart Foundation’s Mi-nority Success Initiative. An important component of this faculty-led initiative is mentoring by faculty

and first-generation alumni. Mentors can help first-generation students overcomethe isolation and confusion of the freshman experience and recognize that they indeed belong at Adams State. Having successfully navigated the college path,mentors can serve as role models. The EPIC program seeks compassionate, first-generation alumni in the San Luis Valley region to help the next cohort of first-generation students. For more information, contact Lori Laske at: [email protected],

or at 719-587-7867.

1st generation students need mentors

alumni notices

L-R: Lori Laske, Jim and Cheryl Aber-nathy, Stan and Mona Brinkley, SusieMitchell, Lavoy andBessy McCorkle,Kathy and Ken An-derson, andPeggy Bland.

L-R: Jasper and Janet Mangum, Dale Kerby, Sheryl and Wayne Farley,Bonita and Dean Tooley, Lori Laske, Deborah and Geoff Bokan, Tom and Joanne

Jones, and Otto Stangl.

32 | scrapbook

albuquerque breakfast • march 12

Front L-R: Jenna Neilsen, MichaelPatritch and Karol Ann Krakauer,Karen Greening, Becky and KyleAnn Steenburg, Denim and SveaBaxman.

Back L-R: Mark andDessa Baxman, PaulNewman, Jim Willis,Don Stegman, KarenBowman, and John Taylor.

asc theatre reunion • may 6-7

granada breakfast • april 9

Front L-R: Darlene Derbigny,Lori Laske, and Janet Lowther.

Back L-R: Arthur Derbigny, Jake Mar-tinez, Bill and Phyllis Sinclair, and

Willis Lowther.

Front L-R: Tashina and Ozias Garrett, RuthMcGee, Mary Campe, Joyce Crisp, Angelica

Lopez, and Lori Laske.

Back L-R: Justin Garrett, Jo Kissinger, FrankDeLeon, Raylene Kahler, Arlina Duran, Barbara

Roberts, Obed Jiron, Robert Eagan and Judy Bruno,Ron Gallegos, and Alfonso Lopez.


Top L-R: Miles “Mick” Reiher, Dennis and JeannineZaiger, Sheryl and Joe Pyle.

Bottom L-R: Jane Clodfelter, Stan Brinkley, Tom andConnie Goodwin

denver social • april 22

colorado springs - sky sox • april 23

la junta luncheon • april 9

Front L-R: Virginia Archuleta, BerthaRagsdale, and Jewel Geiger

Back L-R: Shirley and Rich Compton,Ione and George Glumac, Loyola Litz,Lori Laske, Dianne Hanisch, MaryButero, and GeorgannGomez

34 | scrapbook

Top, L-R: Damon Martin, Tim Terrill, and PabloVigil

Center, L-R: Ron Shepherd, Jim Woodke, Julie &Larry Zaragoza, and Gayl Woodke

Bottom L-R: Carla and Mike Garcia, Steve Lucero,and Dayana George

ncaa track & field championship social albuquerque • march 11

walsenburg dinner • april 9

L-R: Lori Laske, Caroland Russ Cagle, Noel Hurd, Evan and Caroline Sanchez,

Fred and Sheila Sims, Shari and Clyde Steiner, Bernice Martinez, and Sterling Bell


san francisco breakfast • march 13

Front L-R: Ethel Vivoda, Bev Pressey, Bernice Trujillo, Cathie Graeser,Carol Wheeler-Helwig, and Bill Waters.

2nd Row L-R: Jerry & Kathleen Fisher, Mark Vivoda, Maria Clark, S.W. Pressey, Milton Trujillo,Ken Rotolo, Henry Trujillo, Ricardo Martinez, Alison Dominguez, Brenda Trujillo, Ellie Crain, Jane & Bill

Pearcy, Shirley and Joe Carter, Lori Laske, Julia Fluke, Sarah and Anthony Sandstrom, and Beth Waters.

3rd Row L-R: Mary Ann Rotolo, Beth Arellano, Kristie Dorwart, Tim Martinez, Dawn and Charles Johnson, Galen Feeback,Gloria Santistevan-Feeback, Karen Steflik, and John VanTassel.

Back L-R: Curt and Karen Straub, Ed Vallejo, and Bill Crain.

L-R: Jerry and Dixie Longman,Connie and Kim Marvel

walsenburg dinner • april 9

ft. collins candlelight dinner theatre • april 21

pueblo dinner • april 8

36 |sports scene

This year’s class includedAmy Tjaarda, ASC’s firstsoftball player to be in-ducted; national championwrestlers Timm McDaniel‘90 and Rick Willits ‘85,‘92; multi-time nationalchampion runners KimberlyBosen ‘02 and Martin Johns‘92; football player andcoach Wayne McGinn ‘82,‘89; football and baseballstandout Jim Colbert ’61,‘65; and basketball starFrank Duru ‘98.TJAARDA’S 1.1556 slug-

ging percentage from 1993still stands as the NCAADiv. II record, and her .533batting average is still thebest in RMAC history.Tjaarda played under Hall ofFame coach Suzie Phillipsafter transferring to Adamsfrom Mesa Community Col-lege in 1991. She earnedNAIA All-America honorsin her first season in theGreen & White, then put together one of the greatest sea-sons in ASC and RMAC history as a senior in 1993. She hit16 homers and tallied 72 RBIs to garner RMAC Player ofthe Year honors. Tjaarda is also a member of the City ofMesa Sports Hall of Fame, and was named to the RMACAll-Century Team in 2009.MCDANIEL piled up 83 wins on the wrestling mat in three

years at ASC. He garnered his first all-America honors with athird-place national finish in 1989, before claiming theNAIA title at 167 pounds in 1990. His individual title alsohelped ASC to claim the NAIA team title in 1990 underHall of Fame coach Roger Jehlicka, the last of Adams State’s8 team crowns. McDaniel also helped ASC win RMACChampionships in 1989 and 1990, three Colorado Colle-giate Titles from 1988-90, and put up a 28-6 dual matchrecord that included a victory over Notre Dame in 1988.

WILLITS holds the ASC career record with 82 reversals.He earned all-America wrestling accolades at 142 pounds in1983 and was crowned the NAIA champ at 150 pounds in1985. Willits racked up three RMAC individual titles in1982, ’83 and ’85. He was the team MVP and Most Inspira-tional Award winner in 1985 after coming back from injuryto set the ASC record for team points in a season: 146.Willits was named to the Hall of Fame of his alma mater,Pueblo East High School, where he now teaches, as well as tothe Greater Pueblo Sports Hall of Fame, and was named thePueblo Chieftain’s Best Wrestler in Pueblo History in 2009.In 1999, BOSEN set the still-standing RMAC Champi-

onships record for the outdoor 5K (17 minutes, 3.9 sec-onds). During her stellar career as an ASC distance runner,she earned 12 all-America accolades, took home three indi-vidual national titles, and helped the women’s cross countrysquad to capture back-to-back team titles in 1998 and ’99.

now 81 strong

ASC Hall of Fame inducts Class of 2011a total of 35 all-america accolades and 10 individual national titles were earned bythe 8 athletes and and coaches inducted into the Adams State Athletics Hall of Fame Class of2011, June 4.

ASC Hall of Fame Class of 2011: (front, L-R) Kimberly Bosen ‘02, Jim Colbert ’61, ‘65, Timm Mc-Daniel ‘90, Rick Willits ‘85, ‘92; (back) Martin Johns ‘92, Amy Tjaarda, Frank Duru ‘98, andWayne McGinn ‘82, ‘89.


now 81 strong

ASC Hall of Fame inducts Class of 2011Adams State is now represented by 20 teams and 9 indi-

vidual athletes and coaches in the Rocky Mountain Ath-letic Conference (RMAC) Hall of Fame.This year’s induction banquet, held June 24 in Col-

orado Springs, honored the 1983-89 Adams State men’scross country teams and ASC running great Sarah (Parkey)Meyer ’00, a 6-time NCAA Division II National Cham-pion and 13-time all-American.ASC Athletics Hall of Famer Dr. Joe Vigil ’53, ’59

coached all men’s teams honored, except for the 1988team, which was led on an interim basis by current headcoach and fellow ASC Hall of Famer Damon Martin’ 87.

men’s x-country – 1983-89 7 RMAC and NAIA team championships

6 RMAC individual champions

5 NAIA individual champions

37 NAIA All-Americans

Peter Graham ‘83, ‘86 (RMAC Champ ‘83)Robert Ferguson ‘86, ‘88 (2x, RMAC Champ ‘85)Robbie Hipwood ‘87 (3x, RMAC Champ ‘84; NAIA Champ ‘85)James Seefeldt ‘89 (2x, RMAC Champ ‘86)Rick Robirds ‘90 (3x, RMAC Champ ‘89, NAIA Champ ‘86, ‘87, ‘89)Craig Dickson ‘90 (2x, RMAC Champ ‘87 & ‘88, NAIA Champ ‘89)Dave Cuadrado ‘85(2x) Jerry Arguijo ‘87 Dan Hugill Rick Roybal ‘87 (2x)Dan Jaquez Jack Sperber ‘88John Thomas Chuck BartlettDon Fitzgerald ‘89 Patrick Melgares ‘89 (2x) Art Vigil (2x) Marco Ochoa ‘90, ‘92Dan Maas ‘92 (2x) Chuck Schwartz ‘91, ‘94Jason Mohr ‘93 Peter KilbardaAndrew Medina ‘90

In 1999, Bosen claimed the indoor 5K national crown, andthen doubled with wins in both the 5K and 10K at the out-door national championships. Bosen’s list of honors also in-cludes 10 RMAC individual championships, being one ofthe few 2-time RMAC cross country individual champions,RMAC Honor Student-Athlete honors in 1999, and leagueAthlete of the Year recognition for the 2000 indoor track &field season.Before representing his native New Zealand at the 1996

Olympic Games in the 1,500 meter run, JOHNS starred forAdams State as a 15-time NAIA All-American from 1988-92. Still in possession of the ASC 800 and 1,000-meterschool records, he laid claim to five individual indoor na-tional titles during his career and helped lead the men to in-door NAIA titles in 1990 and 1992. In 2009, Johns wasnamed to the RMAC All-Century Track & Field Team.One of the top football players and coaches in ASC his-

tory, MCGINN recorded one of just two 1,000-yard rushingseasons in school history (1,001 yards) in 1980 to finish hiscareer as ASC’s all-time leading rusher, with 3,825 yards.Twenty years later, he came back to coach his alma mater.McGinn was a 2-time NAIA All-American running backwho set school records for carries in a season (226 in 1979)and a career (835). McGinn served as a student assistant forone year while finishing his degree at Adams State, beforeheading off to Texas Christian University as a graduate assis-tant and eventually becoming a long-time assistant and in-terim head coach at Western State. He returned to thesidelines as head coach for ASC in 2000, winning 35 gamesin eight seasons, the third most in school history.COLBERT starred in both football and baseball at ASC,

then embarked on a four-decade coaching career at FresnoState. On the football field, Colbert was a 1959 and ’60 All-RMAC tight end and wide receiver, and in 1961 was namedto the NAIA Little All-American Team. On the baseball dia-mond, he was a 1961 All-RMAC honoree.DURU excelled in both the classroom and on the court —

an offensive and defensive force for the ASC men’s basketballteam. On the court, Duru set the NCAA Division II-eraschool record for career points, bucketing 1,448 from 1994-98. He also holds school DII-era records for field goals andrebounds, and holds all-time ASC marks for career steals,blocked shots, and free throws made and attempted. In the1996-97 season, Duru led the RMAC in both rebounding(9.8 per game) and double-doubles (13), and was named tothe First Team All-RMAC West. Duru received the RMAC/Phillips 66 Academic Award as both a junior and senior.

By Scott Kretzmann

RMAC Hall of Fame inducts nineASC X-C teams and one runner

• 2000 - National Cross Country Athlete of the Year • 2001 - Colorado NCAA Woman of the Year

- Asst. ASC Coach• 2009 - RMAC All-Time Women’s Track & Field team

In 2006, Sarah (Parkey)Meyer ’00 became theonly ASC athlete to be in-ducted into the NCAA Divi-sion II Track & Field Hall ofFame. She led women’scross country to threeNCAA Division II CrossCountry team titles from1997-99.

38 | sports scene

grizzly softball had a strong overall 2011 season,with sophomore centerfielder Katelyn Lovato earningfirst team all-America honors from three different or-ganizations and being named as the RMAC Player ofthe Year. Freshman Kristen Payne followed in Lovato’sfootsteps, nabbing RMAC Freshman of the Year honors,while Lovato’s older sister Jaycee and junior RebeccaLindquist also earned First Team All-RMAC accolades.Lindquist also picked up Honorable Mention DaktronicsAll-America plaudits, while her senior sister Sarahbroke school pitching records, helping the Grizzlies toa 31-26 overall record and their second RMAC Tourna-ment Championship game appearance in the last fouryears.

the grizzly men’s lacrosse team had six All-Western Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association selec-tions in their inaugural season. True freshman Anthony Willner led the teamwith 83 groundballs and was a First Team All-WILA pick as defensive mid-

fielder/faceoff specialist.Sophomore Kevin Bertrandled the team offensively,scoring 18 goals and 27 totalpoints. He was a SecondTeam All-WILA pick.

the first-year women’slacrosse team was led innearly every statistical cate-gory by freshman AmandaHisel, who tallied 13 goalsand 27 groundballs en-routeto Second Team All-WILAhonors. Freshman attackRobyn Bushman and sopho-more co-captain MackenzieCampbell also picked up sec-ond team honors.

Rebecca Lindquist

Katelyn Lovato

Amanda Hisel

Kevin Bertrand

Indira Spence

Cassie Mitchell

ASC Outdoor Track & Field at nationals

grizzly men’s golf capped the 2010-11 season by host-ing a single-round dual against RMAC rival Mesa State. Thatcompetition came on the heels of the Grizzlies’ RMAC Cham-pionship effort, where they finished with a season-best 54-hole team score of 923. Jonathan Atencio claimed his secondcareer medalist honor, while senior Mic Davis capped his col-legiate career with a career-low round of 74.

the grizzly women’sgolf team made schoolhistory by qualifying as ateam for NCAA post-seasonplay. The 2010-11 edition ofthe Grizzlies also smashedthe school-record for scoringaverage and had four of thefive best individual season-long scoring marks in teamhistory. Senior Kendall Mar-tin led the way, averaging85.2 strokes per round whilesetting a new career scoringrecord (86.5). True freshmanKyra Garrison set the pro-gram’s new freshman recordof 85.9.


get latest results & statswww.ascgrizzlies.com

outdoor track & fieldSenior Cassie Mitchell won the NCAA Division II National Championship inthe 3,000-meter steeplechase, while junior Indira Spence turned in three top3 performances at the national meet, helping the Grizzly women to a strongthird place finish in the team standings. The Grizzlies had earlier won aneighth straight RMAC team title, as Mitchell, Spence — named as the RMAC’sCo-Track Athlete of the Year — and fellow Jamaican KayMarie Jones were alldouble-winners. Jones also holds the RMAC Championship and school-records in the 400-meter hurdles. Spence successfully defended her own Ja-maican Senior National title and is on track to possibly earn a berth torepresent her nation in this fall’s IAAF World Championships.

Englishmen Luke Cragg and Drew Graham each won individual national titlesas they led the Grizzly men to a runner-up finish at the NCAA Division II Na-tional Outdoor Track & Field Championships. Cragg won the 5,000 metertitle, while Graham claimed victory in the 1,500 meters, just fractions of asecond ahead of teammate Ryan McNiff. The Grizzlies claimed the RMACteam title as senior James Douglas earned “Fastest Man in the RMAC” andAthlete of the Meet honors after winning both the 100-meter dash and longjump events, while placing amongst the top 4 in three others events.

Luke Cragg

Drew Graham

Women’s Golf & Coach Jay Meyer

The ASC Grizzlies completed the 2010-11 academicyear by placing second in the RMAC Wells/Fargo All-Sports Competition Cup standings and fifth in theLearfield Sports Directors Cup. Adams State was the onlyRMAC school to finish in Learfield’s top ten.

Jonathan Atencio

ADAMS STATE COLLEGEC O L O R A D OC O L O R A D O

Great Stories Begin HereSM

A-Stater Adams State CollegeAlamosa, CO 81102

non-profitu.s. postage

paidpermit no. 80alamosa, co

Renovation and expansion of the Music Building is well underway, asis the renovation of McDaniel Hall (ES building).

Date post:	23-Mar-2016
Category:	Documents
Upload:	adams-state-university
View:	260 times
Download:	6 times

A-Stater summer 2011

Documents